OPPOSITION political parties have called for the immediate resignation of Vice-President Joice Mujuru for trying to muzzle newspapers that have been exposing corruption in State-owned institutions. NQOBILE BHEBHE CHIEF REPORTER
Mujuru was quoted by The Herald yesterday saying exposing corruption in parastatals and related companies by the media could be the work of detractors bent on destroying the government and stalling its programmes.
The MDC-T said it suspected that Mujuru was protecting her Zanu PF faction.
MDC-T national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said Mujuru should step down for condoning corruption and she should be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
“The MDC-T is extremely disgusted and outraged by the utterances of Mujuru reported in today’s (yesterday) Herald that the on-going exposure of corruption by the Press is the work of the country’s detractors,” he said.
“This is highly offensive and is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe. The utterances by Mujuru are calculated to threaten the Press from reporting on corruption by Zanu PF officials.
“It is a fact that these economic saboteurs who have been bleeding the country dry by awarding themselves obscene salaries and benefits are all well-known members of Zanu PF. We suspect that most of them are from the Mujuru faction in Zanu PF.
“In the past, the same corrupt officials have attended Zanu PF fundraising functions making generous donations to the party. Therefore, indirectly Mujuru has been a recipient of this corrupt money hence her attempt to gag the Press,” Mwonzora said.
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Officially opening the first session of Zimbabwe’s Eighth Parliament last year, President Robert Mugabe vowed zero tolerance on corruption in the civil service and other arms of government. He warned that his new administration would crack down on high-level graft.
Mugabe also warned legislators that they would be arrested if they abused public funds, in particular the Constituency Development Fund which they administered.
MDC spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube weighed in saying it was disingenuous for Mujuru to gag the media and she should instead provide evidence that the reports were calculated to tarnish Zanu PF.
“In principle, the media is the fourth arm of government and as such a mirror to the society,” said Dube.
“Mujuru should be reminded that the media does not create, but reports on what is happening around us.
“Most of it, if not all of the information from ZBC (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation) to PSMAS (Premier Service Medical Aid Society) salaries is coming from government officials and ministers who are from Zanu PF.
“Her party is confirming the scandals.
“If, therefore, the reports are false, which we doubt, then Mujuru should produce counter information to correct what is already in the public domain.”
Dube said it was folly for the second-highest office in the land to seek excuses by blaming the media for reporting what has been pronounced by leaders in her government and political party.
“We would be shocked if our country’s vice-president is unaware that the Media, Information and Broadcasting Services minister (Jonathan Moyo) and his permanent secretary (George Charamba) are indeed Zanu PF stalwarts and not opposition politicians.
“We wonder whether it’s the issue of the guilty being afraid,” he said.
Dube said there should be demonstrations against corruption.
“We call upon the people of Zimbabwe to stage a massive demonstration against this corruption,” he said.
“We demand to know what is going on in the diamond industry because that is exactly where a lot of corruption was done by Zanu PF and State officials.”
