Gono ‘lobbied’ #mugabe against new RBZ boss

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.