Zanu PF in desperate bid to cover Mujuru's back

Zanu PF has released a statement condemning corruption that has dogged parastatals in desperate attempt to save face following Vice President Joice Mujuru's rants against the media for exposing the rot that saw heads of government institutions earning outrageous salaries.

Mujuru, speaking at a Zanu PF meeting in Mashonaland West at the weekend said the uncovering of corruption at parastatals by the media were the works of some Zanu PF members who wanted to destroy the party from within.

Mujuru's rants were met with calls for her to step down as Vice President as she appeared to condone corruption.

Below is the full statement by Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo.

11 February 2014

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE PARTY POSITION ON CORRUPTION BY CDE R.E.N. GUMBO SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY

ZANU PF has a zero tolerance approach to corruption and this policy position has most assiduously been pronounced at party level by President Robert Mugabe, Vice President Amai Joice Mujuru and National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo.

This explains why for us corruption was an election issue and why, like the other issues that really matter to us, it was at the very heart of our election manifesto.

It is also important to understand that the ZANU PF Conference in Chinhoyi came up with a raft of resolutions chief amongst which was the need to adopt a zero tolerance approach to corruption.

That resolution has since found expression in Zim Asset and, along with every other issue in that blueprint, is currently being spearheaded by the office of the President and Cabinet. We believe that this is as it should be.

Accordingly, we wish to commend the office of the President as mandated in Zim Asset for its role in the revelation of corrupt activities specifically in respect of the obscene salaries awarded to executives of public parastatals and local authorities.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms this unacceptable and selfish state of affairs and wish to urge the office of the President to continue to act in the national interest.

We would also like to thank the media, both public and private, for their concerted efforts in bringing this shameful situation to public light.

For our part, and for the avoidance of any doubt, we wish to make it known that we will take decisive measures to eradicate corruption in all its forms. Those involved in corrupt activities must and will face the full wrath of the law and we are determined to make this a reality.

We wish, in the circumstances, to urge all government ministries to continue to act in the spirit of Zim Asset, and in the national interest, by carrying out extensive audits in their respective ministries as we believe it will lead to public accountability and instil confidence in the use of public funds.

In the same vein the party believes that complex and intricate issues like corruption staring at our faces cannot be resolved in a piece-meal, haphazard and simplistic manner.

The party needs a comprehensive plan and policy to deal with this menace. Everything must be done above board in an orderly, organized and systematic way to prevent possible accusation of a cover-up.