News / National
'Mavhaire, Mutezo should be arrested'
26 Nov 2014 at 06:12hrs | Views
Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and his deputy Munacho Mutezo should be arrested for abusing public funds when they directed Zesa Holdings to fund Vice President Joice Mujuru's regime change agenda, Zimbabweans have said.
The duo connived to coerce Zesa Holdings to deposit $40 000 to the Manicaland Zanu-PF Women's League chapter's bank account ahead of its conference last August to abet VP Mujuru's bid to oust President Mugabe.
The $40 000, sources close to developments say, was just a fraction of the millions creamed off in similar fashion to bankroll Vice President Mujuru's factional activities countrywide.
According to Section 308 of the new Constitution, approving unsanctioned expenditure is a criminal offence and the restitution must come from the culprits. Subsection (2) says: "It is the duty of every person who is responsible for the expenditure of public funds to safeguard the funds and ensure that they are spent only on legally authorised purposes and in legally authorised amounts."
Legal practitioners and economic analysts said actions by the two ministers bordered on criminal abuse of office which rendered them unfit for their positions and liable for criminal charges.
"It is simple, they usurped the powers of the board of Zesa Holdings," said lawyer Mr Tendai Toto.
"In terms of the Zesa budget, was that donation budgeted for that purpose?
"In the absence of any such provision in the budget sanctioned by the board, it clearly means that the two ministers created unauthorised expenditure which becomes a liability to Zesa, payment of which the source is unknown in the event that it has to be paid back.
"This is tantamount to criminal abuse of office. They can't authorise unbudgeted for expenditure. This is abuse of office which can attract criminal or civil sanction."
Econometer Global Capital head of research Mr Takunda Mugaga said it was important for Zanu-PF to clean up parastatals in the same way it is doing to its politicians.
"It is difficult when ministers forget that they are appointed to serve Zimbabwe not for political expediency and building castles of factionalism," he said.
"If what is reported about Zesa is true, then a criminal docket has to be opened expeditiously to set a precedent to any future corrupt tendencies."
Another economist and businessman Mr Joseph Sagwati said it was important for parastatals to follow laid down procedures when it comes to donations, be they for charity or any other activity.
"It's actually a curious requirement for the organisation if the donation is towards assuaging the falling political fortunes of an individual or political party where it should be according to the laid down procedure and how you would encapsulate that donation in your books," said Mr Sagwati.
"For starters, Zesa is a public entity governed by public policy in terms of ethics and, therefore, no minister or chief executive officer should override the modus operandi put down by the parastatal's governing board. This could be classified as a dismissible offence or criminal because what they were supposed to do was to follow the protocol by checking on the procedure governing such donations."
Online readers of The Herald were yesterday outraged on learning the two ministers' shenanigans.
A reader by the name Reason commented on yesterday's story saying: "I really tend to wonder, despite all her corruptly acquired wealth, the VP continued to dig into State coffers, is it the reason why she tried her best to mute the media over the PSMAS scandals? It seems she has a penchant for looting and she touches organisations which directly affect the day to day lives of ordinary Zimbabweans. Could this be dullness on her part or cruelty, just like her name Teurai Ropa? She surely wants to bleed the majority to death. Whether one likes Dr Grace or not, am now really forced to admire the First Lady, surely she had seen things going out of control.
"If the VP has any cases of corruption against her accusers, then let her spill the beans also rather than keep quiet and rely on speculation from a number of idiots who justify this kind of stinking underhand dealings by her faction on the pretext that everyone is corrupt. Atanga kubatwa ngaende, then in that order they follow each other."
Another reader by the name Critic said: "It really hurts! There should never be any mercy on Mutasa and Mutezo and indeed on many others of like behaviour! The law must take its course and punish these thieves severely. Pamberi ne Zanu-PF!"
Another reader, Mimi, said: "Honestly why would an entity like Zesa bankroll some Women's Conference? And Zesa officials do this kind of thing whilst the ordinary Zesa-paying citizens are grappling with power cuts. It is really pathetic! Looks like this Mujuru faction had really spread its wings."
The duo connived to coerce Zesa Holdings to deposit $40 000 to the Manicaland Zanu-PF Women's League chapter's bank account ahead of its conference last August to abet VP Mujuru's bid to oust President Mugabe.
The $40 000, sources close to developments say, was just a fraction of the millions creamed off in similar fashion to bankroll Vice President Mujuru's factional activities countrywide.
According to Section 308 of the new Constitution, approving unsanctioned expenditure is a criminal offence and the restitution must come from the culprits. Subsection (2) says: "It is the duty of every person who is responsible for the expenditure of public funds to safeguard the funds and ensure that they are spent only on legally authorised purposes and in legally authorised amounts."
Legal practitioners and economic analysts said actions by the two ministers bordered on criminal abuse of office which rendered them unfit for their positions and liable for criminal charges.
"It is simple, they usurped the powers of the board of Zesa Holdings," said lawyer Mr Tendai Toto.
"In terms of the Zesa budget, was that donation budgeted for that purpose?
"In the absence of any such provision in the budget sanctioned by the board, it clearly means that the two ministers created unauthorised expenditure which becomes a liability to Zesa, payment of which the source is unknown in the event that it has to be paid back.
"This is tantamount to criminal abuse of office. They can't authorise unbudgeted for expenditure. This is abuse of office which can attract criminal or civil sanction."
Econometer Global Capital head of research Mr Takunda Mugaga said it was important for Zanu-PF to clean up parastatals in the same way it is doing to its politicians.
"It is difficult when ministers forget that they are appointed to serve Zimbabwe not for political expediency and building castles of factionalism," he said.
"If what is reported about Zesa is true, then a criminal docket has to be opened expeditiously to set a precedent to any future corrupt tendencies."
Another economist and businessman Mr Joseph Sagwati said it was important for parastatals to follow laid down procedures when it comes to donations, be they for charity or any other activity.
"It's actually a curious requirement for the organisation if the donation is towards assuaging the falling political fortunes of an individual or political party where it should be according to the laid down procedure and how you would encapsulate that donation in your books," said Mr Sagwati.
"For starters, Zesa is a public entity governed by public policy in terms of ethics and, therefore, no minister or chief executive officer should override the modus operandi put down by the parastatal's governing board. This could be classified as a dismissible offence or criminal because what they were supposed to do was to follow the protocol by checking on the procedure governing such donations."
Online readers of The Herald were yesterday outraged on learning the two ministers' shenanigans.
A reader by the name Reason commented on yesterday's story saying: "I really tend to wonder, despite all her corruptly acquired wealth, the VP continued to dig into State coffers, is it the reason why she tried her best to mute the media over the PSMAS scandals? It seems she has a penchant for looting and she touches organisations which directly affect the day to day lives of ordinary Zimbabweans. Could this be dullness on her part or cruelty, just like her name Teurai Ropa? She surely wants to bleed the majority to death. Whether one likes Dr Grace or not, am now really forced to admire the First Lady, surely she had seen things going out of control.
"If the VP has any cases of corruption against her accusers, then let her spill the beans also rather than keep quiet and rely on speculation from a number of idiots who justify this kind of stinking underhand dealings by her faction on the pretext that everyone is corrupt. Atanga kubatwa ngaende, then in that order they follow each other."
Another reader by the name Critic said: "It really hurts! There should never be any mercy on Mutasa and Mutezo and indeed on many others of like behaviour! The law must take its course and punish these thieves severely. Pamberi ne Zanu-PF!"
Another reader, Mimi, said: "Honestly why would an entity like Zesa bankroll some Women's Conference? And Zesa officials do this kind of thing whilst the ordinary Zesa-paying citizens are grappling with power cuts. It is really pathetic! Looks like this Mujuru faction had really spread its wings."
Source - The Herald)
