The Stain of the Plastic Chair: Why Accountability Has to Be More Than a Soundbite

By Ilyana Sithole

The image is stark and nauseatingly familiar. A policewoman on a simple plastic chair at the Harare Parkade Rank openly receives what is obviously a bribe. This was no behind-the-scenes deal; it was done in broad daylight, recorded for all eternity by a citizen’s keen-eyed camera cell phone, and soon enough went viral on social media. It is good that Constable Mupandira and Constable Chirengendure have been arrested, but it cannot be the end in our quest for accountability and transparency in public office, especially in the vital institution of law enforcement.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police’s swift action to arrest the officers and the National Prosecuting Authority’s arraignment of them for criminal abuse of office is a silver lining. Stephen Mutamba, the Commissioner-General’s anti-corruption public statements are good. But these statements and arrests will be meaningless if they are found to be isolated incidents, damage control against overwhelming evidence. If unchecked, corruption errodes public trust, undermines the rule of law, and ultimately paralyzes society.

This Parkade incident is more than a tale of two corrupt cops allegedly. It’s a symptom of perhaps a wider disease. How many more of such deals lie hidden, unaccounted? How many citizens, already compromised, need to pay to be let go from unfair situations or rot at the mercy of a dysfunctional system? That plastic chair in that going-viral clip is now a symbol – one of the ease with which some public officials can violate their oath and trust placed upon them.

Accountability calls for a wide and open investigation that extends beyond these two people. We must know the systemic reasons why such a thing is possible. Do we have lax oversight systems? Do we have certain units where there is a culture of accepting, or even promoting, such actions? Are the officers properly paid and cared for so that temptation to illegal enrichment is minimized? These are tough questions, but they must be asked and answered truthfully if we are going to see meaningful change.

Transparency is the foundation on which accountability is built. The citizens deserve to know the outcome of the investigations into this case. Disciplining and criminal prosecution have to be done in the light of day so that citizens can see that justice is being administered. This is not about embarrassing individuals in public; it is about showing that no one is above the law or that institutions charged with our protection are themselves held to high standards.

In addition, this episode should be a spur to more general law enforcement and government office reform. Strong internal controls, independent inspector general offices, and open avenues for reporting corruption by citizens with protection from reprisal are what we need. We need stronger protection for whistleblowers and ethics training as a standard, built-in component of professional development for all in public office.

The Commissioner-General’s promise that the law will run its course “without fear or favour” must ring more than hollow. It must be followed by a proven intention to root out corruption at all levels, irrespective of rank or status. The ultimate test of such resolve will come in the bail ruling on April 28th. The public holds its collective breath for the answer as to whether or not justice will be blind and unbiased.

The blemish on that plastic chair at Parkade Rank is a bitter reminder of the imperative of a call for redoubled efforts at transparency and accountability in the Zimbabwean public service. The arrest and prosecution of the two officers are merely the beginning, but the path to an absolutely fair and reliable system is a journey that needs tenacious effort, institutional change, and unwavering commitment from all parties. Let this occurrence not be just another fleeting moment of public outrage, but a turning point in our common struggle against corruption. #StopCorruption must progress from being a hashtag to being a daily fact.