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

Abstract

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.