Illusion of ownership and the rise in corruption

several layers of well rehearsed rituals.
Corruption ignores any form of good governance. Bribes not taxes, line up the walls of revenue governance and procurement.
So much goes on in the world of corruption that it has now become part and parcel of societies.
Many economic and legislative instruments have failed in slowing down this menace.
It seems that the only hope of a cure lies in the minds of the societies themselves.
Within the many causes of corruption is found greed and continued drive to collect personal wealth even after far surpassing amounts needed for the rest of the days.
This insatiable thirst for possessions is driven by an illusion of ownership.
Society has been trained to identify itself with things. This illusion is not limited to objects, but includes “ownership of people” also, such as in slavery and some types of relationships.
Possessions and ownership form emotional bonding of man, objects and other fellow human beings. It becomes part of their personality.
In the end, rather than man owning things, this fantasy ennares man to be owned by things. It is this dysfunction that fuels corruption.
Illusion of ownership defines how people live, how they express themselves, who they associate with. 
People have memories of desiring something, the pleasure of attaining a mansion, the experience of being chauffer driving in a Bentley, the luxury of being waited upon by many servants and so forth.
Notwithstanding the real need to live a decent life, illusionary emotions propel individuals to tread where angels fear to tread.
Corruption, which used to be confined to specific sectors such a procurement or customs, has now become endemic in all societal groupings found in religious bodies, politics, government, the private sector, NGOs, multinationals and even in traditional leadership, because of the illusion of wanting more and more.  
In the case of ordinary men and women, low government salaries are blamed for the growing corrupt tendencies. 
An illusion or false impression that if one was paid more they would afford a certain lifestyle continues to cause governance systems to fall into the dark abyss of corruption.
This illusion has numbed and killed off basic human senses and values in integrity and fairness.
Societies keep running after fantasies or possessions, but never stop to take stock of the simplicity in joy and peace that is already in their midst. 
It is increasingly becoming difficult for mankind to give and share, because the illusion of ownership always makes one feel that they do not have enough, or that someone is trying to steal from them or that others are jealous of one’s possessions.
This is turn makes it difficult for people to love others or to do unto others, as they would want done unto them.
Simply because a few make the effort to appreciate what they have, the illusion of ownership creates poverty traps and nourishes the spirit of poverty in the minds of people.
Yet life reminds us from time to time that humans do not own anything, but rather are stewards of things and for a season.
It is this realisation that causes people like Warren Buffet, Bill and Melinda Gates, among many philanthropists, to donate most of their huge fortunes to charity.
They understand the virtue of generosity and giving, which is based on principles of stewardship.
This means that men and women are conduits to earthly wealth distribution.
Stewardship enables one to freely give because they freely received, unlike corruption which is about taking and being stingy.
Over time objects get damaged, lost, stolen, sold, recycled or replaced. 
Even something that lasts a lifetime will cease to be yours when you are gone. 
If you look even further ahead it is even easier to realise that someday all life on earth will be gone.
The distressing footages of the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan and Indonesia, the tornadoes in the US, the volcanoes in Mexico and other disasters, show homes being destroyed in seconds, whole towns flattened in minutes and everyone’s possessions torn to shreds and swept away, huge trucks being tossed up hundreds of feet and thrown away.
It is difficult to imagine how people who have lost everything pick up the pieces and move on, but somehow they find a way.
That is the way of life, there is always a better and simpler way.  It is inspiring to see the Japanese rebuilding after the earthquake and tsunami. 
Communities work together in times of struggle and survive with so little, and however distressing it may be to think about it, there’s a valuable lesson to learn from all this, that illusion of ownership and the resultant corrupt practices are distractions from the true meaning of life.
Jesus in Matthew 19 shows a rich young man how not to be distracted by earthly riches and said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
The rich young man went away sad. Yet, again we are taught in Acts 4:34 that there were no needy persons among them.
From time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them brought the money from the sales to the apostles’ feet.
Barnabas sold a field he owned and brought the money to be shared among the people.
Much good could be done to governance systems, if realities of stewardship are practiced, rather than follow deceptions in mass accumulation of personal possessions.
Corrupt tendencies are contrary to the spirit of freedom, the spirit of the many men and women who freely gave their lives for the freedom of all.
They were not greedy. Corruption says “mine”, while stewardship and governance says “ours”.
What makes us think that this current generation is about taking it all for personal  aggrandizement?
So much joy and peace could prevail in societies and nations if we could learn to let go of the illusion of ownership and attend to the real needs of our societies and countries.   
We do not truly own anything. 
The longest we ever hold on to objects is until the end of our lives. We are just borrowing all these things until we give them back to the world or they are lost in some other way. 
Hence it is wiser to learn to revel in the pleasure of having simple things and appreciate how much one has. 
Enjoy the experience of dreaming and desiring, having and using wonderful things, but also realise that it is all borrowed, all is temporary and if you really want to, you can continue to exist with less. 
Better still, you could learn to be good to others. It is possible to renew perceptions.
l Gertrude Takawira is a researcher and consultant in governance