It is not new for ZANU (PF) Ministers to interfere in the running of state enterprises which fall under their mandate, in fact that is all they ever do as they scheme on how to make money from any tenders, projects or contracts that are currently in play.

As we at PDP have stated before, in Zimbabwe we have a ZANU (PF) looting machine whose sole business is to plunder our resources with no remorse at all. This looting machine is primarily operative through state enterprise projects where dubious loans are procured clandestinely and project costs inflated so that those in the looting chain can get paid off.

To qualify to be in this chain, you must blindly support the party and Mugabe and never challenge his competency or decisions. That is why all state enterprises CEO’s must be approved by him in the first place and they must also of course continually pay homage to him and wish him long life as their President. Some have even openly confessed how they owe their “rise” to Mugabe.

It is evident to us at PDP that the current shenanigans at ZPC and ZESA are a microcosm of the broader economy which has ceased to be productive, but is now characterised by a ZANU (PF) secret economy of corruption and quick deals. This is why Zimbabweans continue to be shocked at the amount of wealth in this booming ZANU (PF) cabal secret economy, while the majority of citizens have to scrounge on daily basis in order to survive.

The Zimbabwean taxpayer, for generations to come, is already burdened by ZANU (PF) corruption and will continue paying dearly for state enterprise “loans” for the next twenty to thirty years. That will be the legacy of Mugabe and his predatory cabal whose insatiable greed and profligacy must be funded by poor Zimbabweans.

As PDP we must express our utmost disgust at the failure by Minister Undenge of taking full responsibility of the continuing corruption at ZPC and ZESA. We demand that he resigns or be fired immediately for corruption and undue and unethical interference in the normal course of business at these companies. This is the cancer of corruption that we speak of which can only be addressed by cutting off those limbs that are causing the rot.

Although this is our position, we know that nothing will be done by Mugabe because he would have to fire his whole cabinet and also resign himself because he must also ultimately take responsibility for the sins of those he has appointed.

We are, however, pleased to note that management at ZPC have now decided to tell it as it is and we expect that the Minister takes full responsibility for his deeds than to continually blame them for the rot.

PDP continues to stress that without substantive economic reforms and the replacement of the ZANU(PF) looting team from government, Zimbabweans can only expect a worsening economic climate characterised by increasing unemployment and therefore decreasing disposable incomes and wide spread poverty.

As the economic situation worsens, we are certainly bound to see more creativity from the looters and their kin as the pressure to maintain their conspicuous lifestyles in the midst of poverty increases. They are all beyond redemption. ZANU (PF) has plundered and bankrupted Zimbabwe and it is now time for us to put a stop to the rot.

We therefore once more call for the immediate resignation of the shameless looting machine called ZANU (PF) from government and the establishment of a national transitional technical council (NTTC) to arrest the socio economic decline and to begin to revive the economy.

Its mandate must include dealing with the emergency social needs now, addressing the liquidity issues and stabilising the financial services sector, dealing with the public debt issue, dealing with corruption within state enterprises, reviving agriculture and industry to create jobs, attracting new long term investment into the country, reducing recurrent government expenditure and doing whatever it takes to stabilise the macro-economic environment.

In our view, this is the only way we can immediately stop the rot and save Zimbabwe from these habitual looters.

Another Zimbabwe is possible!

by Vince Musewe
Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs

photo-zimnowmedia-Soul mates: Wicknell Chivayo and Grace Mugabe at her Mazowe farm