Mugabe attacks Mangoma over leak of ZESA bills
By Lance Guma
23 March 2012
Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF ministers on Tuesday used a cabinet meeting to
launch an attack on Energy Minister Elton Mangoma, blaming him for leaking
details of their huge unpaid electricity bills.
Last week the Daily News exposed how Mugabe and his wife Grace owe power
utility ZESA over US$345,000 in unpaid electricity bills, incurred at their
multiple farms. Also exposed, with more than US$300,000 in outstanding
bills, were Manicaland Governor Chris Mushowe and CIO boss Happyton
Bonyongwe.
A report in the Zimbabwe Independent says Youth and Empowerment Minister
Saviour Kasukuwere, who owes ZESA US$100,602, used ‘strong language’ in
accusing Mangoma of leaking the ‘confidential information’ about the bills
“to embarrass Mugabe and ZANU PF ministers, while scoring political points.
Mangoma recently announced the launch of a crackdown on so-called ‘VIP
defaulters’ but denied leaking the bills to the press.
It’s reported Mangoma was outnumbered during the meeting as Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, his deputies Thokozani Khupe and Arthur Mutambara, were
not present.
A detailed breakdown of how much Mugabe and his wife Grace owe ZESA was
provided by the paper.
“Four plots at Foyle Farm plus a cottage as well as Gushungo Dairy stood at
US$143 667 while Gwebi Woodlot 1st Farm owed US$24 901. Sigaro Farm 1st PO,
2nd PO, 3rd PO and 4th PO owed a total of US$78 218.”
“The First Lady Grace Mugabe’s Iron Mask Cottage, Iron Mask 2nd POIN, Iron
Mask 3rd POIN, Mazowe Wholesalers, Annant Cottage, Iron Mask Farm 5th, 6th,
7th and 8th owed a total of US$98 306 as at December 31 2011.”
Also owing the state owned power utility is Defence Minister Emmerson
Mnangagwa (US$240,824), Transport and Communications Minister Nicholas Goche
(US$158,245) “for his plots at Ceres Farm and businesses, which include
grinding mills, a farm store and a service station.”
Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa owes US$179,590, Air force
chief Perence Shiri US$26,947 for his Hopdale Farm, while police boss
Augustine Chihuri’s owes US$106,778 for his homestead and his Inyika farm.
Speaking to SW Radio Africa political commentator Phillip Pasirayi said the
attitude of the senior government and military chiefs to the leaking of the
bills showed how they are completely unused to any form of accountability.
Instead of owning up or paying the bills they were “taking everyone for
granted” and acting like Zimbabweans owe them something.
Also in the news for a similar reason was central bank Governor Gideon Gono,
who owes the state owned NetOne mobile network US$800,000 in unpaid phone
bills stretching over two years. According to the South African Sunday Times
newspaper, NetOne has now dragged Gono to court demanding payment.