Mpofu’s behaviour erodes trust in ED’s govt 

Source: Mpofu’s behaviour erodes trust in ED’s govt – DailyNews Live

Guthrie Munyuki      28 February 2018

HARARE – People talking without speaking, People hearing without
listening!

I found the above, which I read from the weekly e-mail bulletin shared
with thousands of people by Kubatana.net.

The statement is full of irony but very rich when deducted from a
non-emotional point of view.

I have found this statement to be quite timely as it mirrors the current
mood in Zimbabwe today where the general populace is struggling to pass a
verdict on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government.

Mnangagwa has many people believing that he has what it takes to
reconstruct this country from the ruins created by former president Robert
Mugabe.

Equally there are many who are beginning to doubt that Mnangagwa and his
administration are different from Mugabe.

Mnangagwa needs both sides – those believing in him and those who are
beginning to doubt him – because losing either side spells problems
especially as we approach elections.

Those believing that Mnangagwa looks the part to move Zimbabwe forward
point to the serious statements he has made in the last two-and-half
months which, in my view, tick the right boxes.

But these were statements of intent not the action itself!

Now those that doubt him are pointing to the lack of action or
implementation on his statements – including perceived failure to throw
the book at people around him who are accused of acquiring ill-gotten
wealth and lacking the stamina to take Zimbabwe forward.

Mnangagwa has said he is happy to be told of his mistakes and correct them
as he goes along rather than be given time to be judged.

One of the mistakes that ED has made, at least in the eyes of ordinary
Zimbabweans, is the failure to act decisively on ministers and those who
claim to be his cohorts whose conduct in public desecrate the standing of
the president apart from militating against that which he is set to
achieve as Mugabe’s successor.

Take, for instance, Thursday’s unprecedented attack on Parliament by Home
Affairs minister Obert Mpofu, whose amazing tantrum against Mines and
Energy committee chairperson Temba Mliswa, served to expose his disdain
for such hallowed institutions which he is supposed to be accountable to.
As former Mines minister Mpofu had been summoned to Parliament to explain
the missing $15 billion revenue from the gem-rich Chiadzwa diamonds
fields.

This was by no means suggesting that he is a thief or was culpable.

“I am not the minister of Mines and I don’t know which precedence has been
set where former ministers are subjected to questioning on issues to do
with ministries that they have already left. I have no mandate to speak
about the ministry of Mines.

“For as long as he is sitting in front of me, presiding over this issue, I
will not co-operate.  You are even refusing me a chance to say what he had
come to do at my house. With respect to honourable members, I will never,
never be presided over by Mr Mliswa for what has happened and you should
allow me to express myself.

“I am not going to talk. I have submitted myself to you and I will not
talk about this issue … no matter what you say, I will never say
anything … you don’t know me …” Mpofu thundered.

For such as seasoned politician to behave in such a manner, at a time his
principal has promised to go to the ends of the earth to deal with
corruption, Mpofu’s conduct is best interpreted as showing little regard
for Parliament, accountability and feelings for the ordinary folk. In fact
it is fair to say Mpofu’s conduct towards the august House suggests
someone who calculated the risk of behaving like that and was satisfied
that nothing would happen to him.

Sadly Mpofu missed the opportunity to help bring closure to the $15
billion issue as well as removing all bad tags that had been attached to
him by preferring to attack Mliswa and the procedure the committee used in
inviting him to Parliament.

Instead, his behaviour will, in all likelihood, cement the public’s views
and attitude towards his tenure as Mines minister.

Damagingly, Mpofu’s behaviour erodes public trust in Mnangagwa’s
administration and again, increases the number of those who are beginning
to doubt him.

Fortunately for Mnangagwa and Parliament there are many instruments
available to deal with behaviour such as Mpofu’s.

But the question is will action be taken?