Opinion / Columnist
What to do with Mugabe's stolen loot
21 Nov 2017 at 15:38hrs | Views
While I am very happy to see witness the demise of the dictator, I am very angry at the realization that Mugabe seized and monopolized both political and economic power to advance his own selfish and criminal interests, not developing the economy, and caring less about the poor. His overarching obsession was to amass personal wealth, gaudily displayed in flashy cars, and fabulous mansions.
Helping the poor, promoting economic growth, or improving the standard of living of their people was anathema to Mugabe. "Food for the people!" "People's power!" "Houses for the masses!" were simply empty slogans that were designed to fool the people and the international community.
This made me step back and think. I understand we are all happy as a nation to see Mugabe's back but I ask all concerned citizens to jump to this opportunity and come up with various restrictions against the office of the President to ensure that whoever occupies the position acts properly.
My suggestion is to convert Mugabe's mansions into upscale state lodges with the hope of recovering the money for the state. A serious dialogue is needed on what to do with these properties before the cockroach gets away with it.
In addition, new code of conduct is also urgently needed to ensure our future leaders are truly civil servants. As an example, the President must be forbidden to speak directly to the people in private/public. Such an injunction is designed to check despotic tendencies and misuse of power.
Of particular interest is the prohibition against property holding. To prevent a President from using his/her position to amass wealth for themselves, the President may not, except in a few circumstances, own any personal property while in office. Everything that the President acquires while in office automatically becomes state property. That rule must apply to the wives as well. To make the rule effective, the administration of all funds and property must be put in the hands of someone else other than the President, who is barred from any close contact with the state finances.
Helping the poor, promoting economic growth, or improving the standard of living of their people was anathema to Mugabe. "Food for the people!" "People's power!" "Houses for the masses!" were simply empty slogans that were designed to fool the people and the international community.
This made me step back and think. I understand we are all happy as a nation to see Mugabe's back but I ask all concerned citizens to jump to this opportunity and come up with various restrictions against the office of the President to ensure that whoever occupies the position acts properly.
My suggestion is to convert Mugabe's mansions into upscale state lodges with the hope of recovering the money for the state. A serious dialogue is needed on what to do with these properties before the cockroach gets away with it.
In addition, new code of conduct is also urgently needed to ensure our future leaders are truly civil servants. As an example, the President must be forbidden to speak directly to the people in private/public. Such an injunction is designed to check despotic tendencies and misuse of power.
Of particular interest is the prohibition against property holding. To prevent a President from using his/her position to amass wealth for themselves, the President may not, except in a few circumstances, own any personal property while in office. Everything that the President acquires while in office automatically becomes state property. That rule must apply to the wives as well. To make the rule effective, the administration of all funds and property must be put in the hands of someone else other than the President, who is barred from any close contact with the state finances.
Source - Byo24News
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