The Effect of Nepotism
Corruption is the main side-effect of nepotism. The moment we negate merit as the only touchstone for selection, the seeds of corruption are well and truly sown. In developed countries democracy ensures selection, appointment and/or advancement on the basis of merit. Unfortunately the worst form of nepotism was practiced by our so-called “democrats” when in power. Democracy is meant to ensure that merit alone is the arbiter of success but our “democracy” was not accountable and when a system is not accountable it is to be expected that patronage will be rampant on a wide-scale. Because of this lack of accountability in Third World countries the situation is perverse, democracies tend to reward favourites, that in turn makes the system tailor-made for corruption. When any authoritarian rule substitutes democracy, the major reason usually given is to stamp out the nepotism and corruption. In the initial euphoria of correcting wrongs, an authoritarian system does fall back on merit. Only when things settle in place the client-patron relationship takes over and things go back to being far worse than in any democracy.
How have the institutions of this country been corrupted? Mainly by installing favourites without merit, in decision-making positions. Those unworthy of selection then proceed to run riot in the institutions at all levels, bending the rules to accommodate their favourites in turn, in time the whole institution becomes rotten to the core. Lacking ability or management capacity, those without merit have as their primary aim and function the lining of their own pockets and/or living high at the expense of the institutions. Obviously this cannot be done without ensuring the appointment of hand-picked cronies in key decision-making slots. A cycle of nepotism is created which deepens the corruption psyche. Even if the person appointed without merit is not corrupt, which happens from time to time, the lack of efficiency, knowledge, experience, managerial capacity, etc encourages others down the line to indulge in corruption, secure in the knowledge that ignorance and incompetence of their superiors will prevent any discovery, a built-in inferiority complex preventing those in power from exercising their authority as it should be used.
