ZANU PF yesterday urged its MPs to “resist with greatest vigour” attempts by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to push for an audit of indigenisation deals following allegations that they were marred by corruption. REPORT BY EVERSON MUSHAVA
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said Tsvangirai was attempting to “gain cheap political mileage by misdirecting people’s attention from his party’s failures.” He said such “smear campaigns” were meant to derail a “people’s cause” championed by Zanu PF.
“For our part, we call on all our Members of Parliament to treat Mr Tsvangirai’s miserable move with the disdain it deserves,” Gumbo said. “We are appalled by the Prime Minister’s call for a parliamentary probe into the on-going indigenisation exercise.
“Zanu PF’s position is that we will resist this latest attempt with the greatest vigour possible.”
Gumbo alleged Tsvangirai was merely politicking ahead of elections.
“Elections are not won by engaging in baseless and hollow tricks, they are won through programmes that are genuine and beneficial to the people,” he charged.
“Regrettably, the MDC-T’s record in this regard has been dreadful.”
Zanu PF is using the indigenisation programme as its campaign strategy for the forthcoming elections expected in July.
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Tsvangirai last week said he was concerned by alleged “misdemeanours and corruption in the handling of empowerment transactions for several companies”.
The PM said the the programme purportedly meant for the majority was in reality benefiting the politically connected.
“I am equally concerned with reports that some relevant government organs were kept in the dark about the full nature of some of these transactions,” Tsvangirai said.
“Only a proper investigation will expose the truth about what happened and whether or not the State and the people of Zimbabwe were prejudiced in any way and whether all procedures and statutes were followed.
“It is, therefore, imperative and in the interest of transparency that Parliament, through its relevant committees, should probe this matter.”
This followed media reports alleging gross irregularities in the handling of the Zimplats empowerment deal which was reportedly done without sufficient consultations.
Zanu PF politiburo member Johnathan Moyo reacted angrily to the reports, accusing Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono of providing false information to newspapers about the deals.
He claimed this was meant to discredit the Indigenisation programme and the responsible minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.
Moyo attacked Gono, describing him as a “House Nigger” whose “disappointingly dirty hands” influenced the lies against the indigenisation programme.
