The Role of Prostitutes in the Political Economy of Corruption in Ben Mtobwa’s Pesa Zako Zinanuka and Dares Salaam Usiku

Summary

Corruption is a vice that continues to afflict many countries in the world, those of Africa inclusive. It is inimical to the rule of law, honesty and integrity. Those involved in corruption subvert honesty while privileging depravity. In the final analysis, the moral fibre of a people becomes eroded as corruption takes the centre stage. Corruption has been a common subject matter in many literary works. Such works have depicted the ruling class and their henchmen involving themselves in the morass, eventually bringing nations economies to their knees. While literary critics have focused on the role of politicians and tycoons in corruption in literary works, little attention has been given to a number of minorities in the malfeasance. This article, which is hinged on African feminism as espoused by Gwendolyn Mikell and Oreyonke Oyewumi reports the findings of an investigation into the role of the prostitutes in the political economy of corruption in Tanzania’s Ben Mtobwa’s Pesa Zako Zinanuka (Your Money Stinks) and Dares Salaam Usiku (Dares Salaam by Night). The article argues that prostitution is hierarchical and asymmetrical in male-female relations. Male clients exert power and domination over the female prostitutes, and little wonder that harlots accrue any significant benefit from the trade. The article demonstrates that prostitutes are integral to corruption as they cavort with politicians and tycoons, where they are used as sidekicks, while in other instances they play the role of conduits in scams. They are also used as covert security operators for the corrupt, while playing stumbling blocks to the anticorruption crusaders. The article argues that this is evidence of the subordination of women as a section of menfolk thrive in corruption.

Opsomming

Korrupsie is ’n misdaad wat steeds vele lande in die wêreld teister, ook Afrikalande, en wetsgehoorsaamheid, eerlikheid en integriteit teëwerk. Mense wat by korrupsie betrokke is, ondermyn eerlikheid en laat verdorwenheid floreer. ’n Land se innerlike krag erodeer namate korrupsie toeneem. Korrupsie is ’n algemene tema in vele literêre werke. Sulke werke beeld leiers en hulle handlangers se betrokkenheid by korrupsie uit, en illustreer dat korrupte karakters hulle land se ondergang kan veroorsaak en die ekonomie kan verwoes. Literêre kritici fokus op politici en magnate se korrupsie, maar hulle skenk nie veel aandag aan die rol wat minderhede in korrupsie speel nie. Hierdie studie draai om Afrika-feminisme soos verwoord deur Gwendolyn Mikell en Oreyonke Oyewumi, en doen verslag oor die bevindinge van ’n ondersoek na die rol van prostitute in die politieke ekonomie van korrupsie in Pesa Zako Zinanuka (Jou geld stink) and Dares Salaam Usiku (Dar Es Salaam in die nag) deur die Tanzaniese skrywer Ben Mtobwa. Daar word aangevoer dat prostitusie hiërargies en asimmetries in die verhoudinge tussen mans en vroue is. Manlike kliënte oefen mag uit oor vroulike prostitute en domineer hulle, en dit is ’n wonder dat prostitute enigsins ’n beduidende voordeel uit die beroep trek. Die studie toon dat prostitute ’n integrale rol in korrupsie speel as gevolg van hulle noue kontak met politici en magnate, wat hulle gebruik as handlangers of tussengangers in skelmstreke. Prostitute word ook in die geheim deur korrupte persone gebruik as sekuriteitsoperateurs en om strikke te stel vir stryders teen korrupsie. Hierdie artikel voer aan dat dít bewys is van die onderdrukking van vroue, terwyl ’n korrupte groepie mans van krag tot krag gaan.