via Gono ‘lobbied’ Mugabe against new RBZ boss 24/03/2014 NewZimbabwe
FORMER Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono has denied claims by a Cabinet minister and Zanu PF politburo member that he tried to block the appointment of John Mangudya as his replacement.
The minister told NewZimbabwe.com that Gono actively lobbied President Robert Mugabe against appointing Mangudya and urged the Zanu PF leader to promote his former deputy, Charity Dhliwayo, instead.
Gono and Mangudya bitterly fell-out over the accounts of the First Family’s dairy business at CBZ bank, the minister added.
Gono however dismissed the allegations as lies.
Mangudya, currently chief executive of CBZ Holdings, was confirmed as the new central bank head by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa at the weekend, replacing Gono who retired last November after ten years at the helm of the apex bank.
Gono, who worked with Mangudya at CBZ before moving to the central bank in 2003, congratulated his former protégé saying: “He (Mangudya) is one man I know will be equal to the task and challenges ahead.
“He obviously will find both deputy governors Dr Charity Dhliwayo and Dr Kupukile Mlambo incredible pillars of support technically and experience wise, together with the dedicated team of professionals I left behind.
However, the Cabinet minister, who asked not to be named, said Gono’s apparent delight for Mangudya was just smoke and mirrors and an attempt to cover his deep disappointment with the development.
Gono, who has been nominated for the Senate by Zanu PF’s Manicaland province, is said to be eyeing the Finance Ministry, supposedly banking on his reputed close ties to Mugabe as a former banker and financial advisor to the First Family.
His rivals in Zanu PF’s complicated succession politics allege the former RBZ boss was behind recent speculative media reports suggesting Mugabe was planning a Cabinet reshuffle.
The Cabinet changes would essentially target current treasury chief Patrick Chinamasa, who was seen to be struggling to right the country’s struggling economy, and replace him with Gono.
If appointed new Finance Minister, Gono would have to work closely with Mangudya, a situation that would have been problematic for the former RBZ boss, NewZimbabwe.com was told.
The Cabinet minister said Gono and Mangudya fell out after the former allegedly told the First Family that accounts for their Gushungo Dairy enterprise were being mismanaged at CBZ.
Gono is said to have, albeit unsuccessfully, urged the Mugabes to switch their business to a different bank, in the process infuriating Mangudya.
And when Mangudya was proposed as the new RBZ boss, Gono allegedly briefed against the CBZ Holdings CEO and, again unsuccessfully, urged Mugabe to appoint Dhliwayo who has been acting governor.
He told NewZimbabwe.com: “I do not sink that low in my professional conduct and will never do so as long as I live.
COMMENTS
“I do not sink that low in my professional conduct and will never do so as long as I live.
“Let those who wish to take credit for the recommendation do so. I’m enjoying my retirement in peace.”
This from the man that ruined many hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans through creating the worst devaluation of a countries currency, ever in peacetime. No doubt his manipulations by buying at the government rate, selling at the parallel rate, then buying dollars again at the government rate, made him and his buddies a fortune. So he must be left in peace to profit from his, state of the art chicken farm. Shameful but the wheel turns and he, along with many other Mugabe looters, will not go unpunished for what they have done.
It never fails. The Shona Dynasty is raising its head once more at the RBZ. No Ndebeles that could count money were available in the whole Republic. Oh, what a SHAME!
zviwira vanhu Gonowe kutaura hako asi zvinopfuura
State of the art chicken farm my foot! have you seen the workers accomodation. Its the worst slum in peri urban Harare. Someone must snap shoot it from google earth and publish the story of chickens in better accomodation that humans.I dont think the workers ever get paid like all other invaded farms. Its indegenisation, chicken empowerment and human disempowerment.
dear Gideon, you must be alien from Mars if you can “rest in peace” after what you did to us.
It’s a pity to see such thoughtless comments on a story started by an ‘alleged minister who asked not to be named’ imi moita chirombe chekutenga nyaya yemakuhwa. Little thinkers, like amai Jukwa says, shemu mhani. Let the man Gono indeed enjoy his retirement in peace.