Zanu PF crooks extort $76 000 from settlers

via Zanu PF crooks extort $76 000 from settlers – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 6, 2015

THE Zanu PF politburo on Wednesday tasked party political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere to probe a number of highranking party officials allegedly abusing First Lady Grace Mugabe’s name to grab land and swindle desperate home seekers in Harare and other cities.

Xolisani Ncube/Moses Matenga

The move comes as Youth League secretary for administration Lewis Matutu was fingered as one of the top party officials allegedly fleecing people in Caledonia outside Harare with over $70 000 having been extorted from a
school claiming that they were taking it to the First lady.

Several victims told a five-member ministerial delegation that toured the resettlement area that they received
letters of demand allegedly signed by Matutu.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told journalists that the politburo, which is the highest administrative
arm of the central committee, had tasked Kasukuwere, also Local Government minister, to deal with the issue
and all those implicated in the scam be brought to book.

“The politburo discussed at length the issue of illegal settlers mushrooming in large cities and an example being
Caledonia. After a robust debate on the issue, the politburo tasked the Minister of Local Government to address this issue and if need be, send the law enforcement agents to such places,” Moyo said.

“We discussed the involvement of some party officials in these illegal invasions and resolved that after thorough
investigations by Cde Kasukuwere, the party will take appropriate action where this needs to be done.”

Before the meeting, Kasukuwere led a delegation of ministers to Caledonia on a fact-finding mission and bitter villagers exposed Matutu and other top party members for demanding cash from them as well as grabbing a school in the area claiming that it was now under the First Lady.

The team, which comprised Harare Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Miriam Chikukwa, Health and Child
Care minister David Parirenyatwa, Energy minister Samuel Undenge and representatives from different ministries,
came face-to-face with the rot at the settlement and learnt how vulnerable villagers were being swindled by Zanu
PF officials.

Bitter residents told the ministerial delegation that they had lost thousands of dollars to the syndicate, which
claimed that the institution was now under the First Lady.

“They came and said it is Amai’s school. We were happy that at least the school would be built well as it was the First Lady’s school. My husband works at State House and he told me Amai would not operate in that manner as she was an honest person,” Tendai Sabvura, a resident, said.

“They said they had been sent by Amai Mugabe. I went to Chaminuka Building and spoke to some people there who said they wanted the documents signed by Matutu and I gave them. We really want to meet Amai over those abusing her name.”

Kasukuwere fumed saying no one in the ruling party would get away with abusing the name of the First Family and
amassing wealth by exploiting the poor.

“This is not Amai’s issue. That is why we are here. The President doesn’t want people to abuse the name of the party. Report those criminals to the police. How can people pocket all that money?

They are criminals,” he said. According to the settlers, the group collected $69 000 from parents who pay
$40 for primary education and $60 for secondary education at East View 1 primary and secondary schools.

Two months ago, former Zanu PF Harare Youth League chairperson Godwin Gomwe was arrested for allegedly abusing
the First Lady’s name to fleece housing co-operatives in Glen Norah.

Matutu could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.