Professor Moyo hints at possible division within Zanu-PF

ZANU-PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo has hinted at possible divisions within Zanu-PF ahead of elections expected later this year and suggested that the RBZ chief was fronting for elements within the party keen to thwart President Robert Mugabe's re-election bid.

Writing in the Sunday Mail, Moyo said:: "If by attacking the equity or ownership-based model of indigenisation in favour of the so-called supply side approach, the Governor of the Reserve Bank is hoping to be a striker in the Bhora Musango brigade ahead of the forthcoming general election that is around the corner, he honestly and seriously should think again.

"This is not 2008. The game this time round is Bhora Mugedhi and the players are Zanu-PF only. This should be food for thought for the misguided comrades out there who imagine that they can settle their personal or political scores with the Minister Kusukuwere by hiding behind Gono or by fronting him to fight the indigenisation reform programme in the treacherous hope that its failure would mark Kasukuwere's political demise.

"It has now become all too clear that when some spineless cowards in our midst want to attack a Zanu-PF policy or when they want to attack President Mugabe, they hide their nefarious agenda by attacking the minister responsible for that policy."

He also dismissed allegations that the Zimplats deal had been concluded without consultation, quipping that there was no need to consult Gono because "if you oppose a national programme in public, you forfeit the courtesy to be consulted because your views are public and thus known."

Moyo rejected claims in the Daily News newspaper that UK courts would have jurisdiction over Zimbabwe's indigenisation deals.

"Anyone who thinks this Act is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in London is very, very dangerous and needs to be watched very closely," said Moyo.

"(The Zimplats agreement) makes (it) clear that the interpretation of the arrangements relating to the vendor financing will be in terms of English law, this does not mean the interpretation will be done by English courts in the same way the application of Roman Dutch law in Zimbabwe does not mean the jurisdiction is with South African or Dutch courts.

"It is a fact that in Zimbabwe we have common law, Roman Dutch Law and English Law. Vendor financing is much clearer in English law which is in force in Zimbabwe than it is in Roman Dutch law which is also in force in Zimbabwe."

The former information minister also said it was a bit rich for RBZ officials to claim that Brainworks Capital, a local company advising on the indigenisation deals, had been handed the contracts without going to tender.

He charged: "Was there any tendering during Baccossi? Did Finance Minister do any tendering in his distribution of the IMF Special Drawing Rights to dubious companies and banks under dubious companies?  Why are some people making holier-than-thou noises when the public record is so loud against them?"