'Throw the book to money externalisers'

People's Rainbow Coalition has demanded that if it is true that there are some elements who were externalising funds they must be brought to book as a matter of urgency to send a serious message to would be like-minded.

PRC leader Joice Mujuru's spokesperson Gift Nyandoro said the coalition notes the Government's directive of a three moratorium to individuals and corporates to return huge sums of money and assets which they illegally externalised; failure to which they are to face the long arm of the law.

He said clearly the nation is being advised of the illegal externalisation malpractices as having been discovered as a result of Operation Restore Order by the military.

"If indeed the said discovery is true, PRC demands that; the law enforcement arm should proceed to bring to book the culprits forth with as per the dictates of the law. Crime remains a crime and cannot be rewarded in any way. Secondly, the Government should name and shame the Culprits so that justice should be seen to be done in earnest that is if the Government's directive is not a mere window dressing exercise. Zimbabweans want to know the culprits who have led to the unprecedented economic suffering of the citizenry,"  Nyandoro said.

"The exercise should never be allowed to be another Debt Assumption Bill where the taxpayer Assumed the debt burden but the Government refused to disclose the identity of the culprits to date. Can the Government also expose the identities of culprits who caused the debt that the taxpayer had to be made to assume.

"Thirdly can the President and the cabinet he is going to appoint be made to declare their assets and wealth as a confidence-building measure amongst our countrymen. Such exercise goes a long way in the projection of leadership that is not corruption tainted."

Nyandoro said above everything else can the Government name and shame all the individuals and corporate who are behind the misappropriation of mineral proceeds of US 15 billion which is yet to be accounted for.

"15 billion dollars can not simply be wished away. If it is part of the money that has been illegally externalised then the nation must know and the due process of law must be followed immediately. Its time that the Government should walk the talk on issues of accountable governance. PRC believes that should the new administration fail  to meet the above demands;  it therefore follows that the said new measures are just much ado about nothing," he said.