News / Regional
Mugabe refuses to work with corrupt companies
12 Dec 2015 at 08:32hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday castigated the government officials assigned to engage foreign companies to undertake developmental projects in the country for inflating costs and making taxpayers bear the brunt of their corruption.
The President also revealed that he indicated to Chinese President Xi Jinping that he would not work with corrupt companies in projects under the $4 billion mega deals signed between the two countries.
The Chinese President was in the country on a State visit last week that saw the conclusion of 12 landmark deals covering infrastructure, energy development, agriculture and transport.
The State visit was in reciprocation of President Mugabe's visit to the Asian nation in August last year.
Addressing party supporters at the official opening of the 15th Zanu-PF Annual National People's Conference at the Elephant Hills Resort grounds, President Mugabe said the government would be thorough in vetting companies to work with on the projects.
He revealed that the country was involved in a number of joint development programmes with other countries and would be conducting various projects with those countries. Mugabe said the recent visit by President Xi resulted in a number of Chinese companies partnering with the government.
"There are some who want to be paid bribes. They build here, if the project we're doing costs $10 million, you say $13 million. We then tell China and say we're back, that road that we want to build now costs $13 million, and someone pockets $3 million. That's what is happening.
"This is the reason why, I want to tell you the truth, I refused to work with some companies and told President Xi Jinping that I don't want those that are corrupt that want to do underhand dealings. You inflate costs, I can use another figure you say you want $22 million when the project costs $20 million and the $2 million you're given through the back door. We said no, we don't want companies like that," said President Mugabe.
"It's a cost that's to be borne by the people. If it's $22 million yet it was $20 million, we will then pay back to China $22 million and the people will pay more for the project which should have cost them less and you're doing it for your own benefit. Down with you. We don't want that. If we catch you, you go to prison."
President Mugabe said the conference should lay down the principles of conduct in co-operation with the country's development partners. "President Xi said these projects yes, we will help you, but we can help Zimbabwe with more if you give us projects that you think will assist you in industrialising your country. And we will be given more projects but we want straight people, people of good conduct, we don't want thieves," he said.
President Mugabe said the government would be thorough in selecting companies to work with as they do not want cheats who want to benefit from the projects through corrupt activities. The Chinese government pledged $60 billion in loans and grants to Africa over the next three years at the recent Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
President Xi also announced that his country would roll out 10 major programmes to strengthen cooperation with Africa in the coming three years in the areas of industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, infrastructure, financial services, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and public welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security.
President Mugabe told the conference that African Union members were now talking about industrialisation to improve their respective economies, taking a leaf from the Zim-Asset government blue print.
"The notion of ZimAsset has now penetrated the thinking of our AU members, there's now talk of industrialisation, we must industrialise, we brought it to them and indeed it was also the talk when we met in Johannesburg with Chinese President Xi Jinping," said President Mugabe.
He warned that industrialisation cannot occur easily without production or infrastructure. The President said he thanked President Xi as he bade him farewell after the Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) telling him that the projects he had brought had rejuvenated and brought new blood to the heart of Africa.
"Because with the resources that they (China) are delivering and I know they'll deliver in future, if those resources are handled properly, our countries in Africa will certainly take off, they will transform. Some will need a longer time to transform than others but then African resources must come to the hands of Africa and this is the problem. Some of the natural resources, even the oil they are discovering, is first and foremost the oil of either France or America," said President Mugabe.
He said the countries were taking advantage of the poor state of African countries by bringing their machinery and giving them a pittance for their resources. President Mugabe said the country was lucky that even after exploitation by big mining companies like Anglo-America and Rio Tinto, the nation still has good gold deposits unlike oil which can be quickly depleted.
"Our brothers in Africa have got to fight first and foremost for the ownership of their natural resources if the assistance from China is to work. That's the foundation. If the resources are not their own, those resources will just play to the advantage of our erstwhile masters," he said.
President Mugabe said the country has had successful meetings in India, Turkey and China on partnerships covering key sectors of the economy. He said the government wanted to promote innovation in science and business for graduates from tertiary institutions to be able to create employment.
"The universities must now relate their courses to possible practical programmes and projects. This is what you must do in order for you to start a business," said President Mugabe.
The President also revealed that he indicated to Chinese President Xi Jinping that he would not work with corrupt companies in projects under the $4 billion mega deals signed between the two countries.
The Chinese President was in the country on a State visit last week that saw the conclusion of 12 landmark deals covering infrastructure, energy development, agriculture and transport.
The State visit was in reciprocation of President Mugabe's visit to the Asian nation in August last year.
Addressing party supporters at the official opening of the 15th Zanu-PF Annual National People's Conference at the Elephant Hills Resort grounds, President Mugabe said the government would be thorough in vetting companies to work with on the projects.
He revealed that the country was involved in a number of joint development programmes with other countries and would be conducting various projects with those countries. Mugabe said the recent visit by President Xi resulted in a number of Chinese companies partnering with the government.
"There are some who want to be paid bribes. They build here, if the project we're doing costs $10 million, you say $13 million. We then tell China and say we're back, that road that we want to build now costs $13 million, and someone pockets $3 million. That's what is happening.
"This is the reason why, I want to tell you the truth, I refused to work with some companies and told President Xi Jinping that I don't want those that are corrupt that want to do underhand dealings. You inflate costs, I can use another figure you say you want $22 million when the project costs $20 million and the $2 million you're given through the back door. We said no, we don't want companies like that," said President Mugabe.
"It's a cost that's to be borne by the people. If it's $22 million yet it was $20 million, we will then pay back to China $22 million and the people will pay more for the project which should have cost them less and you're doing it for your own benefit. Down with you. We don't want that. If we catch you, you go to prison."
President Mugabe said the conference should lay down the principles of conduct in co-operation with the country's development partners. "President Xi said these projects yes, we will help you, but we can help Zimbabwe with more if you give us projects that you think will assist you in industrialising your country. And we will be given more projects but we want straight people, people of good conduct, we don't want thieves," he said.
President Xi also announced that his country would roll out 10 major programmes to strengthen cooperation with Africa in the coming three years in the areas of industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, infrastructure, financial services, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and public welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security.
President Mugabe told the conference that African Union members were now talking about industrialisation to improve their respective economies, taking a leaf from the Zim-Asset government blue print.
"The notion of ZimAsset has now penetrated the thinking of our AU members, there's now talk of industrialisation, we must industrialise, we brought it to them and indeed it was also the talk when we met in Johannesburg with Chinese President Xi Jinping," said President Mugabe.
He warned that industrialisation cannot occur easily without production or infrastructure. The President said he thanked President Xi as he bade him farewell after the Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) telling him that the projects he had brought had rejuvenated and brought new blood to the heart of Africa.
"Because with the resources that they (China) are delivering and I know they'll deliver in future, if those resources are handled properly, our countries in Africa will certainly take off, they will transform. Some will need a longer time to transform than others but then African resources must come to the hands of Africa and this is the problem. Some of the natural resources, even the oil they are discovering, is first and foremost the oil of either France or America," said President Mugabe.
He said the countries were taking advantage of the poor state of African countries by bringing their machinery and giving them a pittance for their resources. President Mugabe said the country was lucky that even after exploitation by big mining companies like Anglo-America and Rio Tinto, the nation still has good gold deposits unlike oil which can be quickly depleted.
"Our brothers in Africa have got to fight first and foremost for the ownership of their natural resources if the assistance from China is to work. That's the foundation. If the resources are not their own, those resources will just play to the advantage of our erstwhile masters," he said.
President Mugabe said the country has had successful meetings in India, Turkey and China on partnerships covering key sectors of the economy. He said the government wanted to promote innovation in science and business for graduates from tertiary institutions to be able to create employment.
"The universities must now relate their courses to possible practical programmes and projects. This is what you must do in order for you to start a business," said President Mugabe.
Source - Chronicle
