Zanu-PF thrives on looting, says Dabengwa

OPPOSITION Zapu leader, Dumiso Dabengwa (pictured), yesterday accused the ruling Zanu-PF party of thriving on the looting of State and people's private properties to fatten its pockets since independence in 1980.

Addressing delegates at the party's congress in Bulawayo, Dabengwa cited the seizure of Zipra and Zapu properties in the 1980s, recent company and farm grabs and looting of diamonds from Chiadzwa, as confirming Zanu-PF's propensity for "reaping where it did not sow".

Dabengwa said the current socio-economic crisis was directly linked to Zanu-PF leaders' selfishness and greed.

"The Zapu 2010 congress consolidated the party's revival as an autonomous entity after it had been swallowed into Zanu-PF through the 1987 Unity Accord imposed through the sly use of State power for partisan purposes," he said.

"You are no doubt aware that this political vendetta was not limited to political repression and killing only, but was accompanied by seizure of properties belonging to Zapu as a party and those belonging collectively to the veterans of Zipra."

"If you go along Joshua Nkomo Street and 10th Avenue you can see a building called Magnet House, which belonged to Zapu. It was taken and given to the Central Intelligence Organisation. In Harare another place called Snake Park belonged to Zapu and it was taken and another place again in Harare was given to the National Social Security Authority, which has been making a lot of money from the Zapu property."

Dabengwa said the controversial land reform programme was nothing but a looting spree, which benefited mostly the Zanu-PF elite, triggering massive food shortages as most of the seized commercial farms were no longer productive.

"The culture of reaping where one did no sow has been inculcated in Zanu-PF. Someone just wants to take everything where he has not invested in. Even the President confirmed it when he said diamonds worth $15 billion were looted in Marange.

When we see the level of greed and selfishness prevailing today it is difficult to comprehend that this is how an independent Zimbabwe has paid back the sacred blood of young people whose bones, in many cases, have yet to receive proper burial."

"There is no sense of shame or visible remorse in the regime that one of the most promising countries is now worse than a Banana Republic. At least in a Banana Republic, there are bananas to eat and there are viable fields where people have work," the former Zipra intelligence supremo said.

"In these tragic circumstances I would like to encourage civil society, including the churches to intensify their condemnation of selfish politics that undermines the dignity, human rights and basic survival of Zimbabwean."

Meanwhile, police in Bulawayo yesterday summoned Zapu regional spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa for questioning in connection with the defacing of council road signs on Tuesday. This was after unknown people defaced road signs on Robert Mugabe Way and renamed it Devolution Way.

"I went to the police station and they were saying I was responsible for the devolution plastering. I told them that I do not know anything about it although we as a party are pushing for devolution," he said, adding he was not charged for the alleged offence.