A ZANU PF official has called for an audit of ministries run by the MDC formations during the era of the inclusive government, raising fears President Robert Mugabe’s party is plotting a witch-hunt.
Staff Reporter
Psychology Maziwisa, deputy director of information in Zanu PF, exposed the manoeuvres on Twitter at the weekend, but when pressed by Southern Eye, he claimed they were his personal opinion.
Maziwisa, who once wrote that Zanu PF refused to hand over power when it was defeated by the MDC-T in 2008, is considered a mouthpiece of hardliners in Mugabe’s party.
He refuted charges that Zanu PF was plotting a witch-hunt against its former coalition partners saying there was evidence MDC-T and MDC formations were corrupt. “What witch-hunt? If these guys end up being pursued, it will be by the relevant authorities and not by Zanu PF,” he said in response to questions from the Southern Eye.
“The law is very clear about how public funds ought to be used. “If you look back five years, it’s clear certain ministers from the MDC were acting outside the precepts of the law. And I’m not just talking about isolated cases of abuse of funds; I’m talking about a pattern — a culture of corruption. In my view, Finance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Education, Energy and Industry and Commerce (ministries) would be good starting points.”
MDC-T’s Tendai Biti is the outgoing Finance minister while Nelson Chamisa headed the ICT ministry and Elton Mangoma headed the Energy portfolio. MDC leader Welshman Ncube is the outgoing Industry and Commerce minister, while his party’s legal affairs secretary David Coltart headed the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture ministry.
Coltart, considered to be the best performing minister during the life span of the inclusive government after he helped resuscitate the education sector, was the only minister singled out for criticism in the Zanu PF manifesto for the July 31 elections.
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Ironically, only in 2010 Maziwisa wrote: “When Nelson Chamisa telephones me and speaks about how he has given everything for the advancement of democracy in Zimbabwe, my heart aches.
“Tears come to my eyes when I juxtapose the sacrifices he has made and the selfishness displayed by his Zanu PF counterparts and, to be fair, some within his own party. Instead of bringing something to the table, they take, take and take again.
“Zimbabwe has been undone by Zanu PF’s lust for power and money.” He added: “Unlike Zanu PF, the MDC has several politicians of integrity and determination.”
Early this year, Zanu PF was accused of using its influence over the police to block the investigation of several of its ministers fingered by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in scandals around indigenisation and mining deals.
