'SalaryGate diverting attention from pressing economic issues' - Mazibisa

In a Facebook status, Sindiso Mazibisa of the Welshman Ncube led MDC has dismissed the Salarygate probe as a way of diverting attention from the economic crisis that Zimbabwe is facing.

The status reads as follows:

ZIMBABWE SALARYGATE: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

THE allegedly obscene salaries earned by executives at ZBC and PSMAS and the alleged fraud at AIR ZIM have kept the nation and those who care to listen spell bound some green with envy ,wishing they could be in Curtbert Dubes or Muchecheteres shoes just for one day. It is obvious that should there be public disclosure on all parastatals of the official and parallel payrolls the rot will stink to high heaven.talk of the ZESA, ZERA, CAAZ, CMED, ZIMPAPERS, FORESTY COMMISSION, ZINWA, ZMDC,TRAFIC SAFETY, MARANGE, ANJIN, HEALTH SERVICES BOARD, POTRAZ, and the list is endless,some people will die of shock at the abuse of public funds.From a legal stand point l see very few if any successful prosecutions because the lawfully constituted boards ,being beneficiaries of allowances and retainers approved the salaries and benefits.

Many objective Zimbabweans realise that this so called salary gate is diverting attention from pressing economic issues affecting every Zimbabwean and the Cuthberts and Muchecheteres have feathered their nests with the support of the boards which apparently failed to exercise control and over sight and were partaking in the honey comb.in the words of one pubic officer sitting on the PSMAS board which has since gracefully resigned ,they failed to ask the right questions.

I do not see any merit in the ongoing witch hunt and public appeals by ministers and those who have bought into the diversion for the parastatal heads to submit payrolls ,whether parallel or not.What will that benefit the public with this public exercise?

What must happen is that there should be public interviews for competent and honourable citizens and professionals to sit on these boards and not the known creation of jobs for boys and girls who are politically aligned the ministers or government and brave ministers will ensure that the Zimbabwean parliament is involved in this exercise.

The rear view mirror approach to the whole salary saga is not taking Zimbabwe anywhere. If anything its drawing us into rocking chair setup,appearing to be moving when we are in one place.Pertinent and critical issues facing Zimbabwe are .among others:

1) MAKING SURE THAT EDUCATION ASSISTANCE IS MOBILISED FOR THE 1 MILLION PUPILS AND SCHOLARS WHO,WITHOUT BEAM ASSISTANCE ARE DOOMED

2) COMING UP WITH PRACTICAL AND ROBUST POLICIES TO LURE FOREIGN AND DIRECT INVESTMENT IN ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY

3) MOBILISING SUPPORT AND FUNDING FOR SMALL SCALE BUSINESSES IN MINING ,MANUFACTURING AND TEXTILES AMONG OTHERS

4) ENGAGING INTERNATIONAL FUNDERS LIKE THE WORLD BANK AND IMF TO GET ZIMBABWE WORKING

5) ALIGNING LAWS TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS FOR ALL CITIZENS

6) ENGAGING MILLIONS OF ZIMBABWEANS IN THE DIASPORA TO RETURN HOME TO A SAFE AND DEVELOPMENTAL STATE WHERE RULE OF LAW AND SOUND ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES ARE CORNERSTONES FOR THE GOVERNMENT

7) MOBILISING RESOURCES FOR THE EDUCATION AND HEALTH SECTORS AND GIVE MEANING TO THE RIGHTS TO EDUCATION AND HEALTH AS SET OUT IN THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

8) CREATING JOBS OR CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE JOBS CAN BE CREATED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DEAL WITH THE 80 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

9) Mobilising food for the millions who are on forced hunger and face starvation without government and donor support

The so called salary gate pre occupation must end and the President,his Cabinet and Zimbabweans must focus on the critical 9 points or issues raised above and not this politically contrived diversion on salaries. The call by the media ,civic society and political actors must be the pressing and urgent need to deal with hunger, job creation and getting the economy out of the economic quagmire we find ourselves in.