Mugabe must come clean

via Mugabe must come clean – NewsDay November 4, 2015

Yesterday, we reported that some Zanu PF political apparatchiks are going about boasting about the ruling party’s connections to the country’s economic underworld and get-rich-quick schemes.

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) formed as a noble institution to drive the black economic empowerment agenda in the 90s appears to have been hijacked by filthy individuals who now are “calling on all Zimbabweans to join Zanu PF” if they want to get rich. It is therefore disgusting that AAG president Chamu Chiwanza is urging Zimbabweans to join Zanu PF for purposes of enriching themselves at the expense of the poor.

Government and quasi-governmental institutions are replete with examples of rich Cabinet ministers who seemed to have performed the incredible magic of turning a few thousands that they receive as pay into millions. President Robert Mugabe is head of this government and leader of the ruling Zanu PF party. This is the party of our independence that we firmly believe has a role to play not only in the present, but the future of our country in whatever capacity at any given time. But we disapprove of the notion that for one to get rich they have to members of Mugabe’s party.

It is clear that some criminal elements have taken over Zanu PF and would want to make the most of their association with Mugabe and Zanu PF. Obviously their selfish agendas will always be exposed when the time comes, but in the interim Mugabe must instill discipline for the benefit of the majority poor citizens. It is these criminal elements in the ruling party who are using Zanu PF in their get-rich-quick schemes that have dragged Zimbabwe into the economic mire. These are not for obvious reasons speaking on behalf of Zanu PF, but themselves.

Those who formed the Zanu PF party, particularly the heroes and heroines who gave the only life they had to liberate this country, must surely be turning in their graves.

We, therefore, call on Mugabe and Zanu PF to please come clean. Mugabe must declare his position clearly on the issue of corruption and abuse of office by officials in his party and government institutions. Otherwise Zimbabweans would be left with no option, but to bunch him up together with these malcontents who are nothing but a national disgrace. Zimbabwe is reeling under the weight of a
decade-and-a-half-long economic crisis that Mugabe and those close to him have blamed on the so-called targeted sanctions. Again the sanctions were a result of his intransigence and poor human rights record.

It is on record that Mugabe has over the past 35 years pardoned known criminals who took part in the famed Willowgate scandal. Now he has within his administration known beneficiaries of the nauseating Salarygate scandal. Mugabe is also known to promote securocrats fingered in undermining democratic institutions and the rule of law.

No doubt the conclusion would be the President is complicit in all these shenanigans that have destroyed the hopes of future generations. It is incumbent upon him to show a bit of respect to the 14 million odd citizens of this country who have an equal share as him and his cronies by cutting loose all those suspected to have ill-gotten wealth.

Mugabe must do something. The President and Zanu PF must come clean on this one.