via What a shameless charade! – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 30, 2014
YESTERDAY, we carried a story with the headline $2,9 billion lost through illicit outflows.
According to African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (Afrodad) — a non-governmental organisation — government lost $2,9 billion in potential revenue between 2009 and 2013 through illicit financial flows (IFFs) in natural resources that were spirited out of the country by multinational companies and other investors.
The lost revenue is divided as follows: Mining, $2,853 billion; wildlife (skins and ivory), $15 million; fisheries, $28 million; and timber, $17,3 million.
“The IFFs were more apparent in mining, forestry and wildlife related safari activities,” says Afrodad.
It does not take rocket science to see that all these sectors are now dominated by the ruling elite — both military and civilian, including bureaucrats and company executives — and that it will be most difficult — if not impossible — to rectify the situation because these people have proved to be untouchable in whatever they do. And that “multinational companies and other investors”cannot do this on their own, but as fronts for the ruling elite. It can only mean that someone very high up is facilitating or — most likely and accurately — initiating this free passage.
To boot it all, they have roped in as their point persons on the ground carefully chosen, recycled and/or compromised bureaucrats and executives who are more concerned with maintaining their positions by spending money on showy projects that boost the image and give political image of their political bosses than tackle urgent problems like repair of least safe roads.
It becomes a vicious circle with such a self-perpetuating elite.
ZimAsset, no matter how well-conceived and achievable, will play second fiddle to these vested interests.
People may chorus as much as they want and as loudly as they can the ZimAsset song, but nothing much will come out of it as long the country is raped of its resources by the shameless powerful elite.
And the sanctions mantra won’t wash. Instead of building a firm agro-industrial foundation for the return of the Zimbabwe dollar with all this money, it’s a free-for-all as they loot left, right and centre.
What Afrodad has pointed out is essentially a grand theft, money-laundering and tax evasion scam. It’s time to quantify as to what is more costly and damaging to the nation between sanctions and looting.
There have been sensible, strong, loud and clear calls for the establishment of a diamond wealth fund to benefit the whole nation, but corrupt, greedy politicians are not keen on this sharing of the cake from a national resource.
This is confirmed by Afrodad’s findings that “in the diamond sector, according to the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme monitor, Zimbabwe sold at least $30 million worth of diamonds from Marange, which Treasury and Zimra had no record or knowledge of”.
Lip service continues to be paid to tackling corruption because there have been no prosecutions, convictions and imprisonments despite the glaring evidence of shocking abuse of office by top politicians, government officials and executives in the public sector as well as the private sector.
All we hear are hypocritical mouthings to deceive and distract the nation that something is being done when absolutely nothing is being done. People can now see through all this absurd pretense, farce, travesty and false display for what it is.
All we can say is: “A ‘looter’ continua!”, as the charade continues.
COMMENTS
well, well, well, well, in that period Obert Mpofu (mining)and Francis Nhema (wildlife and Forestry). Why are we not surprised?
The great zanupf robbery. Mob justice awaits the perv perps
How sad that “Skins and Ivory” follow behind Mining!
The wildlife is being slaughtered, the game is being
consumed because the villagers can’t grow food or
sustain themselves.
When I was being brought up in the ’50’s through the
’70’s, one was always aware of kudu, deiker, eland,
waterbuck, baboon, implala that constantly crossed
the roads to our farm, now one doesn’t even see a rabbit!
The Chinese Masters adore skins and ivory, and Mugarbage
needs to keep that Singapore Bank fat!
Zimbabweans need a bit more detail about these scams in order to understand the theft and corruption in high places. Lets name and shame those responsible as much as possible!!!
My fellow countrymen, I’m now abt 60. Was I still 40 I would join those youths in demostrations nomater what. I paticipated in the liberation struggle upto a senior mujibha. You need to be very brave. Some of us also died in action along with armed comrades. So hapana asina kurwira nyika ino. Nevabereki vakafawo muhondo iyi. So who is or who are those to claim that they are the sole owners of our inheritence. Takaitora tese nyika iyi. Kwete zpf chefs chete. They are now our “black oppressors” instead of leaders. Now Youths, plz be brave and reclaim your freedom. Yes their is a prize to be paid, just like some of our colleagues paid, but that prize is sometimes what gonna set you and fellow Zims free from the “black oppressors”. True Heroes are not bestowed but self-made through brave actions. Youths plz liberate us from this monister just like your yesteryears’ fellows liberated Zim from smith. Bravo, bravo, bravo.
ROBBERS AND MUGGERS PVT LTD!!!!
This is why they fought a war and don’t you forget it
The war was fought to liberate all Zimbabweans. To liberate them of their possessions and all. The crocs.
But all this will catch up with them surely?