Scale of graft shocks Mugabe
http://www.financialgazette.co.zw
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 19:44
Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has been shocked by the extent of asset-grabbing in
Masvingo Province by heavyweights in his party following complaints raised
by traditional chiefs in southern Zimbabwe who met him recently.
The ZANU-PF leader’s meeting with three chiefs from Chiredzi highlights
growing divisions in the party as members trade accusations and
counter-accusations over graft, greed and favouritism.
Chiefs in Chiredzi are not happy with the handling of black economic
empowerment initiatives in the area.
These include opportunities arising from the Tokwe Murkosi Dam construction
project; the parcelling out of sugar estates and ranches; the issuance of
leases at Save Conse-rvancy; and various other empowerment projects in the
province.
Communities have been sidelined in the allocation of conservancies at Save
Conservancy, with only a few ZANU-PF bigwigs benefiting. Parks and wildlife
director, Vitalis Chadenga has been named as being on the list of those who
benefited from the conservancies along with Stan Mudenge, Shuvai Mahofa,
Josiah Hungwe, Alois Baloyi and Brigadier General Engelbert Rugeje, among
others.
Interestingly, Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke and his son George each
received a share of the Save Conservancy.
It is feared that the divisions playing out in Masvingo could have a
negative effect on the party’s performance in the next elections as the
majority feel being used to enrich a few.
The scrambling for riches has left ZANU-PF ministers, Members of Parliament,
chiefs and other senior army officers from the province at each other’s
throats, as an elite few continue to reach for the feeding trough.
The free for all situation forced Chief Gudo, Chief Tshovani and Chief
Sengwe to arrange a meeting with President Mugabe to expose ZANU-PF bigwigs
laying their hands on everything that is at stake.
Chief Gudo from Chiredzi said they met President Mugabe sometime this year,
claiming the ZANU-PF leader was surprised that only a few were benefitting.
“He (President Mugabe) directed that Vice President Joice Mujuru deal with
the issue,” he said.
He said multiple beneficiaries; some from outside Chiredzi or Masvingo
Province, were accessing wealth in the name of indigenisation, while locals
wallow in poverty.
For example, of the 827 people granted sugar cane plots only 24 were said to
be from Chiredzi.
Denford Masiye, the chairperson of both the Lowveld Indigenous Business of
Zimbabwe and the Chiredzi Rural Communities Development Initiative, a trust
constituted by the three chiefs, said he attended the trio’s meeting with
the President and they were planning to meet him again because problems were
escalating in the province.
“I was their spokesperson when we met the President. It was an exclusive
meeting between the President and the three chiefs. We met him because
problems were not being solved at provincial level by Governor Maluleke. We
had also met the Lands Minister (Herbert Murerwa) but it was not helpful,”
he said.
“In that meeting, the better term to use is that the President was shocked
about what is happening. One of the things that surprised him was that three
chiefs from outside Chiredzi were granted sugarcane plots, but local chiefs
were not allocated anything.”
Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, could not be reached immediately
for comment yesterday.
Differences have emerged between Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter
Mzembi and Local Government, Public Works Minister Ignatius Chombo, who
could not be reached for comment, over the handling of the Tokwe Murkosi
project.
Mzembi has also differed sharply with Environment Minister Francis Nhema
over the issuance of hunting leases to senior ZANU-PF members.
ZANU-PF bigwigs involved in the deals have dismissed allegations of improper
conduct saying they were merely beneficiaries of the indigenisation and
empowerment programme being spearheaded by their party.
Mzembi admitted this week that there was a “political ping pong approach” to
opportunities emerging from the Tokwe Murkosi project, adding that he was
aware of politicians waiting in the wings to pounce on opportunities ahead
of communities.
“The community can carefully be drafted into a viable estate and plantation
programme that would change their lives for the better forever if we avoid
the current political ping pong approach. I am aware of pre-construction
scavenging around potential opportunities from this project, but let the
people in the area know that they can stop all that with the power reposed
in them. What they need is focused, courageous, selfless leadership to take
them to their promised Canaan,” said Mzembi.
ZANU-PF has always been criticised over the manner it undertakes its
empowerment projects as fat cats continue to benefit at the expense of the
masses.
The manner it rolled out the land reform was also punctuated by multiple
farm ownership by a handful of its members.