A NEWLY-FORMED political party, Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment (Dare), has petitioned President Robert Mugabe to urgently address the corruption scourge and bring the culprits to book before they bled the economy dry.
BY CHARLES LAITON SENIOR REPORTER
The party’s interim president Gilbert Dzikiti challenged Mugabe to walk the talk and empower MPs to expose and debate the issue without fear.
“Mr President, Zimbabweans in their homes and on fields, on the street, in pubs and churches, in gyms and hospitals, in places of work and play are disappointed, shocked and angered by the undemocratic gagging of our representatives in Parliament from debating the motion on alleged blatant looting of government and quasi-government institutions,” Dzikiti said.
“The prevailing feeling among Zimbabweans is that the Executive is out of touch with the public mood, reminiscent of the period prior to the year 1999.
“The uncaring attitude manifested in the treatment of flood victims at Tokwe-Mukosi Dam and shameful uprooting of more than 900 families in Manzou in Mazowe reinforce a perception of an Executive that is uncaring and out of touch with the needs and plight of the ordinary people.”
Dzikiti added: “Therefore, we implore His Excellency to post-haste allow and enable Parliament to institute a commission of inquiry into the ‘Salarygate’ scandal and other allegations raised by Billy Rautenbach and Temba Mliswa, without leaving any sacred cows.
“The commission will enable Parliament to investigate and act on all proven acts of corruption in different State and quasi-State institutions. This is imperative in restoring a culture of transparency, accountability and compliance in governance.”
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The party also denounced government’s empowerment policy, saying it was designed to benefit a few top persons.
“The Indigenous and Empowerment Act is dubiously defined to suit a few individuals,” Dare’s national co-ordinator Happison Chikova said.
“The youths are being used as a thin veil to cover the rot behind the looting of resources by the top government officials at the expense of the majority.
“The issue of 51%-49% is not clearly defined as to who benefits what and where the revenue from the said percentage is sent to. This is just a vehicle of looting.” The party claims to have a membership of 20 000 people across the country.
