Opinion / Columnist
Salariesgate is a typical case of Zanu-PF looting and hypocrisy
04 Feb 2014 at 02:22hrs | Views
Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE) condemns the corruption destroying our economy and service delivery institutions, particularly in the public sector where a few and connected greedy public servants are gorging themselves on the tax revenue from suffering people. In our vision for the future we propose a society guided by values of Fairness, Accountability, Inclusiveness and Respect (FAIR). In this particular case ZUNDE finds it abhorrent that such hefty salaries were approved by Zanu-PF ministers and are being offered to certain individuals when the rest of the people are hardly affording a single meal a day. It is just not right that Zanu-PF continues to milks public institutions through clandestine salary arrangements including the rampant cases of ghost workers. Let the nation be assured that ZUNDE will put this to a sure end. ZUNDE does not accept the excuse that the matter was discussed in cabinet - what matters is what was done about it. ZUNDE will not provide a safe haven for corruption.
What we find most unacceptable is the pretence by Zanu-PF and those who were and are in charge of these corrupt institutions crying foul when they are the very same people who appointed these greedy individuals and approved their salary packages in the first place. It is common knowledge that these packages were approved by the boards and government ministers responsible for the institutions. Zanu-PF cannot fool anyone by pretending to be champions of their own mess. ZUNDE will not be fooled even an inch.
For a start, George Charamba, who is also the President's spokesperson, is Secretary in the ministry that oversees the corrupt boards that approved Muchechetere hefty salaries and a member of another board that approved the PSMAS salary of $230 000 pm for Mr Dube! Mr Charamba, and the government and President he represents, were all aware of these salaries for decades and renewed them on several occasions. The new Minister of Information, who we all know about his antiques, is now presenting himself as a clean sweeper. Cleaning is not about recycling dirt; it's about removing dirt. As if not enough the Prosecutor General does not view this level of corruption deserving his urgent attention. Had these been cases, even fabricated, against opposition figures he would have moved in instantly and then ask questions later. Obviously Zanu-PF is meticulously going through each name and reviewing who among the bosses would be implicated; if the case would end on a Znu-PF heavyweight then Zanu-PF would quickly move in and stop any investigation and reverse any action taken.
It is an insult for the same person to condemn what he approved. It is lip service for the minister who was responsible for the board and also an act of insincerity for a President whose secretary and spokesperson approved these corrupt tendencies. The corruption trails up to the President's desk! Now we are being told the same level of corruption extents to a number of public institutions that operate under the watchful eye of Zanu-PF and indeed their President.
Minister Chombo is another typical example of Zanu-PF hypocrisy. The Harare City Council recently suspended Mahachi for failing to explain the council's salary schedule. Within no time Chmobo in typical trademark nullifies the city council's efforts to investigate, thereby approving the scandal. Like a typical gangster, Zanu-PF decides, regardless of facts, who is corrupt and who is not. Again we know that it is only President Mugabe who can stop the minister from condoning corruption in local authorities. We all know what springs him to action - Mugabe prefers it as it is! ZUNDE will not have any of this.
It is our firm belief that whatever we do must focus at the root cause of our misery - anything else is not helpful at all. Zanu-PF has tried to paint-brush its evil practice and intention, the opposition has tried to change or swap leaders but nothing is being done to dismantle the dictatorship that is at the epicentre of our misery. ZUNDE has chosen to focus on the root cause and we are calling on everyone tired of the misery to join us on this focus. Zanu-PF is a blocked toilet; we can't continue flashing it, we have to replace it! Zanu-PF is like a hen past its egg laying age; we can't continue to feed it! The old cock can't sear any more offspring; we have to get a younger one!
The hefty salaries being approved by Zanu-PF and ignored by the former GNU partners has left workers without an honest shepherd. A government that is prepared to pay millions to Malema and Nikuv but would not do the same to their own workers is not worth anybody's support. It's criminal to approve earning of $230,000 per month when government can't afford to pay civil servants $500! The starving workers have only read and heard about Chiadzwa diamond fields but have not seen even a cent of it. The government claims it's broke but can afford to spend over $1m for the President's birthday! If this is not evil then Satan is a saint! Such callous decision making is only normal in the world of Zanu-PF where its Minister of Information Jonathan Moyo declares that it's not illegal to make wrong decisions.
For this reason ZUNDE is calling on workers to reflect on their fight for a living wage. At the moment Zanu-PF won't even give the workers what they promised them before the recent stolen elections. During the GNU even those that were supposed to represent the workers were surprisingly quiet. It's time for workers to demand fairness and not promises, to receive respect for their support and votes and not endless meetings with perennial failures. As workers we can strike but if they don't listen, we must take this initiative and join ZUNDE. Don't be intimidated into throwing away your future and that of your loved ones.
ZUNDE sympathizes with and support the workers in their demands for fairness and improved working conditions. The longer we let Zanu-PF in charge the more they will destroy our beloved country. We cannot afford that any more. Zanu-PF doesn't care; their only friends and partners are power, diamonds and Nikuv. Just like in the Willowgate scandal, they are looking for a scapegoat; it might be you or me. To the nation ZUNDE says we are coming and things will never be the same; we will put an end to Zanu-PF impunity, looting and corruption.
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Farai Mbira can be contacted at mbiraf@yahoo.com
What we find most unacceptable is the pretence by Zanu-PF and those who were and are in charge of these corrupt institutions crying foul when they are the very same people who appointed these greedy individuals and approved their salary packages in the first place. It is common knowledge that these packages were approved by the boards and government ministers responsible for the institutions. Zanu-PF cannot fool anyone by pretending to be champions of their own mess. ZUNDE will not be fooled even an inch.
For a start, George Charamba, who is also the President's spokesperson, is Secretary in the ministry that oversees the corrupt boards that approved Muchechetere hefty salaries and a member of another board that approved the PSMAS salary of $230 000 pm for Mr Dube! Mr Charamba, and the government and President he represents, were all aware of these salaries for decades and renewed them on several occasions. The new Minister of Information, who we all know about his antiques, is now presenting himself as a clean sweeper. Cleaning is not about recycling dirt; it's about removing dirt. As if not enough the Prosecutor General does not view this level of corruption deserving his urgent attention. Had these been cases, even fabricated, against opposition figures he would have moved in instantly and then ask questions later. Obviously Zanu-PF is meticulously going through each name and reviewing who among the bosses would be implicated; if the case would end on a Znu-PF heavyweight then Zanu-PF would quickly move in and stop any investigation and reverse any action taken.
It is an insult for the same person to condemn what he approved. It is lip service for the minister who was responsible for the board and also an act of insincerity for a President whose secretary and spokesperson approved these corrupt tendencies. The corruption trails up to the President's desk! Now we are being told the same level of corruption extents to a number of public institutions that operate under the watchful eye of Zanu-PF and indeed their President.
Minister Chombo is another typical example of Zanu-PF hypocrisy. The Harare City Council recently suspended Mahachi for failing to explain the council's salary schedule. Within no time Chmobo in typical trademark nullifies the city council's efforts to investigate, thereby approving the scandal. Like a typical gangster, Zanu-PF decides, regardless of facts, who is corrupt and who is not. Again we know that it is only President Mugabe who can stop the minister from condoning corruption in local authorities. We all know what springs him to action - Mugabe prefers it as it is! ZUNDE will not have any of this.
It is our firm belief that whatever we do must focus at the root cause of our misery - anything else is not helpful at all. Zanu-PF has tried to paint-brush its evil practice and intention, the opposition has tried to change or swap leaders but nothing is being done to dismantle the dictatorship that is at the epicentre of our misery. ZUNDE has chosen to focus on the root cause and we are calling on everyone tired of the misery to join us on this focus. Zanu-PF is a blocked toilet; we can't continue flashing it, we have to replace it! Zanu-PF is like a hen past its egg laying age; we can't continue to feed it! The old cock can't sear any more offspring; we have to get a younger one!
The hefty salaries being approved by Zanu-PF and ignored by the former GNU partners has left workers without an honest shepherd. A government that is prepared to pay millions to Malema and Nikuv but would not do the same to their own workers is not worth anybody's support. It's criminal to approve earning of $230,000 per month when government can't afford to pay civil servants $500! The starving workers have only read and heard about Chiadzwa diamond fields but have not seen even a cent of it. The government claims it's broke but can afford to spend over $1m for the President's birthday! If this is not evil then Satan is a saint! Such callous decision making is only normal in the world of Zanu-PF where its Minister of Information Jonathan Moyo declares that it's not illegal to make wrong decisions.
For this reason ZUNDE is calling on workers to reflect on their fight for a living wage. At the moment Zanu-PF won't even give the workers what they promised them before the recent stolen elections. During the GNU even those that were supposed to represent the workers were surprisingly quiet. It's time for workers to demand fairness and not promises, to receive respect for their support and votes and not endless meetings with perennial failures. As workers we can strike but if they don't listen, we must take this initiative and join ZUNDE. Don't be intimidated into throwing away your future and that of your loved ones.
ZUNDE sympathizes with and support the workers in their demands for fairness and improved working conditions. The longer we let Zanu-PF in charge the more they will destroy our beloved country. We cannot afford that any more. Zanu-PF doesn't care; their only friends and partners are power, diamonds and Nikuv. Just like in the Willowgate scandal, they are looking for a scapegoat; it might be you or me. To the nation ZUNDE says we are coming and things will never be the same; we will put an end to Zanu-PF impunity, looting and corruption.
---------------
Farai Mbira can be contacted at mbiraf@yahoo.com
Source - Farai Mbira
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