Act on corruption Mr Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe's silence while the country is engulfed in a corruption storm is baffling and as captain of a ship in stormy waters, we urge him to wake up from his slumber and take charge.

Since the media started unearthing corruption scandals, Mugabe has kept quiet and we wonder what is happening to the old man. Is he still digesting the facts on how the state-owned institutions are plundering the economy or he is powerless to act.

What makes the case even intriguing and mind boggling is the fact that Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba, who is supposed to speak on behalf of the 89-year-old leader is himself busy defending himself on allegations that he dipped his hands in the Public Service Medical Aid Society (Psmas) jar.

In the first place, how on earth does a Presidential spokesperson end up being a board member at a public institution? And if that institution plunges into depths of corruption like in the case of Psmas, how will the president react?

But it seems Mugabe saw no problems in having his top aide sitting on the Psmas board and now both of them have to face the consequences.

Mugabe himself should stand up and say something on the corruption issue not Charamba. Since independence, Mugabe has been accused of turning a blind eye to corruption among his top officials and this is his chance to put this rot to an end.

What is clear from the scandals rocking state institutions is that there are ministers involved and for once Mugabe must severely punish those found at the wrong end of the law.

Being a minister does not mean one is above the law and Mugabe must use all powers vested in him to show that he is a real leader.

In the 80s, the Willowgate Scandal in which ministers and top politicians used their influence to buy cars and sell them for profit saw ministers resigning and one of them, Maurice Nyagumbo went on to commit suicide.

Mugabe must come out in the open and confront the minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo on what he is trying to achieve through reinstating Harare Town Clerk, Tendai Mahachi.

What on earth is Chombo trying to hide? Mr President, please ask Chombo on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe.

Mugabe must confront head on the minister of Health to get an understanding of the looting spree at Psmas, he must ask the former minister of transport what is happening at Air Zimbabwe and at the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) and he must ask the former minister of Information on the looting spree at ZBC.

Mugabe has been chided for not taking action against corrupt officials and it's now or never.