PDP statement on corruption within the State

In Zimbabwe we therefore have a typical example of "state capture" by ZANU (PF) and a sitting President.
 
From what has been reported in the press and on social media with regard to corruption at NetOne, the PDP is hardly surprised. Corruption, conflicts of interests and patronage is the culture of ZANU (PF) and this is not going to go away until we have a new government and new political leadership. At some stage we will have to quantify the amount of looting that has been going on and we are all going to be shocked. Zimbabwe will never progress as long as ZANU (PF) is in power.

As PDP, we anxiously await for the forensic audit at Net One, but that is not all. In our view all State enterprises should be audited in a similar manner in order to expose the theft of public resources that is now the new normal.

The ZANU (PF) patronage formula is clear. The government procures loans for State enterprises from China, these loans by the way, will eventually be paid by the tax payer. The funds are then spent on projects which are authorised by the line minister and procurement is the authorised by the CEO's and board. Projects are given to "approved suppliers" who are of course part of the looting machine.

Line Ministers, state enterprise CEO's, state enterprises boards and approved suppliers are all cogs of this looting machine which is plundering the country's resources and everyone gets paid. This also happens within local government contracts and every state institution. This is what we term "the looting machine" which is oiled by patronage and homage to the President who of course has the final say on who gets appointed as what and where. It is highly lucrative to be approved by him and one must remain loyal to the party and the President or else. In Zimbabwe we therefore have a typical example of "state capture" by ZANU (PF) and a sitting President.

Because of this looting machine, Zimbabweans continue to lose billions of dollars that could be used to develop the country and benefit its people especially within state enterprises. In addition, the pricing of goods and services provided by state enterprises is uncompetitive and inflated in order to meet the cost of corruption and patronage. This of course includes high employment costs and benefits paid to state enterprises senior managers and executives.

As PDP our approach will be to dismantle this looting machine first through forensic audits to expose the extent of the graft and then transforming state enterprises into viable business entities by appointing new non-partisan professional managers and executives to run them including ensuring that we have independent ethical boards. Those who have stolen from the people must face the consequences.

In addition we will ensure that no government official does business with government. We have to remove conflicts of interests and ensure accountability and transparency to save Zimbabwe from this cancer of patronage and theft.

As we have stated before, ZANU (PF) is inherently corrupt and fundamentally unethical. They will never deal with corruption seriously and thoroughly because this will result in the dismantling of the looting machine which feeds them, the predatory cabal which includes Chinese companies and the party.

It remains our contention as PDP that Zimbabwe has all the resources it requires to create new industries, jobs and wealth for its citizens in an inclusive manner, but that will not happen until we remove ZANU (PF) from power and replace them with a new principled leadership who put Zimbabwe first.

Another Zimbabwe is possible!