via ‘Former MDC-T ministers were in government to make up numbers’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 15, 2014 by Obey Manayiti
FORMER State Enterprises and Parastatals minister Gorden Moyo has admitted that MDC-T Cabinet ministers were unable to curb corruption during their tenure in the inclusive government because they had been allocated “irrelevant ministries” and most of their proposals to the curb the scourge were ignored by their Zanu PF counterparts.
Speaking during a public meeting organised by corruption watchdog Transparency International Zimbabwe in Mutare on Thursday, Moyo said of the 14 ministries allocated to his party, only five were significant.
“It’s only the Finance, Health, Labour, Energy and Water ministries that we had and the rest were like departments. We were there to make up numbers. We were conned,” Moyo said.
He claimed the rest, including his, were only there to make numbers.
“I was just a thinking minister and not a doing minister. The MDC had only five ministries, but on paper we were 14,” claimed Moyo when quizzed by the residents to explain what efforts he made to stop the vice during his tenure as Cabinet minister in charge of parastatals.
Turning to the ongoing exposé of corruption and obscene salaries and perks received by top executives at public institutions, Moyo accused President Robert Mugabe of not being sincere over the issue.
“The problem is bigger than the salarygate. We have a structural problem. The State enterprises have become retrenchment home for the military, former ministers and former ambassadors.
“Over the years the current government has been losing elections and it is the military that is saving the current government from implosion. Therefore, they have a sense of entitlement. The President is held hostage by these people.
“The government has no guts to take these people to courts because doing so will be like self-indictment,” he added.
Moyo said State security arms of government were also “too weak” to deal with the matter as they were either incapacitated or accomplices in corruption.
Speaking at the same event, human rights activist Farai Maguwu accused Zanu PF of failing to enforce its own 1984 code of conduct which denounces corruption.
COMMENTS
Possibly Mr MOYO could advise why Tsvangirayi and all his ministers went into the GNU, and then proceeded to capitulate on every contentious issue. Thereafter going into an election which they had been told they would lose. Was it just too easy to wallow along on the gravy train in the belief that the good times would roll for ever. What a shame that they have been exposed for the weak, incompetant fools that they are.
Thanks Moyo for opening up. Like I said ,its important to redeem yourself. The truthful introspect will set you fee.
Tsvangirai has misled the nation .He should stepdown now to allow rebuilding of the part into a more credible force. The momentum and tactical ability to get rid of the mafia has been lost because of his failure to lead.
A GRAND COALITION of the willing which encompasses, civic groups, the church and the diaspora should be established and men/ women of integrity should be called upon to lead. If Tsvangirai is a genuine patriot, then he should be part of the group. Seriously, we have to dilute the zanufication of the MDC.
Nkosana, Strive, Mtetwa, Hoza , Zimbabwe is calling.
Let’s get rid of Zanu
Let’s save Zimbabwe.
Zanu treasonous malcontents.
Yes Roving Ambassador. Zimbabweans NEED to get rid of Zanu. It is a patriotic duty. Letting Zanu continue its misrule and looting is a big betrayal to the future of our nation and children.
Let us not sellout our children!
Let us get get rid of Zanu!
Yes let us rid ourselves of zanu, not only the party but also the elements within the mdc….
U have your facts right but somehow it’s not jellying up.This idea of TSVANGSON stepping down it’s ok but pple r using the wrong platform. THIS IS THE TIME TO STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TO ZANU PF, LET’S NOT BE DIVERTED WITH PETTY ISSUES. PPLE THINK KUTI AKANGOITA A PROFFESOR IN SOMETHING OTOFUNGA KUTI THEY CAN BE A LEADER.ZANU CABINET WAS ONCE INFESTED WITH FUNDIS, BUT CHAKABUDA HAPANA.
ANYONE IN THE RIGHT FRAMEWORK WOULD AGREE KUTI ZANU IS THE MAIN ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED.
LET’S SHARE IDEAS FOR THE BETTER OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS
THE CURRENT REGIME CAN’T STAND OUR HOSPITALS. SCHOOLS AND THEY HAVE LOOTED THE RESOURCES TO OUT-SOURCE THOSE SERVICES.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR CHILDREN TOFIRA MUSANGO HERE?
LET’S NOT OPERATE FROM THE SAME PLATFORM WITH ZANU. THEY WANT TSVANGSON TO GO AND WE SHOULD BE SAYING ” ZANU FIRST THEN TSVANGSON LATER”
IT’S NOT BOUT TSVANGSON ,THAT ZANU REGIME YAKAOMA MUSORO FURTHERMORE THEY ARE THUGS AND CROOKS.
I URGE ROY BENNETT , BITI and MANGOMA TO IGNORE THIS LEADERSHIP ISSUE AT PRESENT IF U HAVE THE INTEREST OF PPLE AT HEART.
Thanks Mr Moyo for admitting that the MDC failed during the GNU. All the more reason that it shouldn’t have participated in a flawed election. Political immaturity was probably the main cause of failure. We as human beings with our own shortcomings can identify with others like Moyo & Biti who admit they failed.
Ok Mdc blundered u said .i f it were you guys hw were you going to do it under those circumstances??nw tell us instead of just blaming and saying Strive this Makoni this .its not easy Guys unless these guys you are talking about have a means to wage an armed struggle against Zpf, wel i i can say they bring smething new Tsvangirai has done everything .so thi blame game must stop if you dont have solutions .removing Tsvangirai frm Mdc-T presidency wl not solve anything.im waiting for yr alternative frm what SAVE did
Heart of the matter is there is no political will in zimbabwe,Most people were better off during the Gnu Why did we not go to the streets like other nations ,Why because we are being ruled by a brutal regime,Ok lets leave the politicians and go it alone who is willing to do that no one, Mugabe was not sincere during the gnu despite having lost the elections now we want to point fingers at mdc WHY
@Zindoga-its easy they should have pulled out before it was too late but greed controlled them.Integrity is very important if accompanied with boycotting of the evil system.Violence is not the solution because you will be stooping to their level.
well said mixed race
1) Ministry of Finance – Did the MDC minister not wonder where the leakages were coming from in the fiscas? Could you not see that these parastatals were eating so much up for just salaries? Why were you ordering NSSA to bail out your buddy’s bank for US$50 million Mr Biti?
2) Ministry of Health – Could the minister (MDC) not see that PSMAS was a sinking ship, failing to pay service providers, with the top 14 executives eating up to $1m per month in salaries and perks?
3) Ministry of Energy (Mangoma) – Was the minister not able to see that the tender process for prepaid meters was dodgy?
4) Water Ministry – Was the minister not able to see that certain costs for refurbishing water distribution plants were being over-inflated?
If the truth is to be said, MDC ministers let the ball drop. The benefit of having an opposition party is that people’s attention is drawn to the inefficency of the ruling party. Your guys were just not switched on enough. A lot of this stuff actually happened during your watch!