VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said the government has launched a forensic audit on the seven companies that operated in the Chiadzwa diamond fields following revelations that the country lost $15 billion through leakages of the precious stone.

President Mugabe revealed in February that the government has not received meaningful returns from the Chiadzwa diamond fields and that private companies mining there have robbed the State.

President Mugabe said less than $2 billion was remitted from diamond proceeds and those seconded by the government to work with the private companies did not help matters as they also failed to account for the gems.

“We’ve not received much from the diamond industry at all. I don’t think we’ve exceeded $2 billion, yet we think more than $15 billion has been earned,” President Mugabe said

Speaking during a Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Business Conference plenary session in response to a question, Mnangagwa said: “You said there was $15 billion stolen. What it then says is that there’s an investigation, where there’s investigation there’s an allegation, and where there’s an allegation there’s a prima facie case, there’s a possibility that the thing happened.

“You properly said there is $15 billion which is being investigated, which means the issue of $15 billion is under investigation, using your own terms, to establish whether it actually happened and if it did, that’s corruption.

“And up to now, that hasn’t been concluded. There were something like seven companies and each company will be subjected to a forensic audit to establish during the past five or six years, what it did. A forensic audit on each company will be done.

“A forensic audit has been instituted against all the seven companies. They’ll be audited to discover whether this happened or not and those who will be found through the forensic audit would account for the resource that they’ve stolen from this country, that becomes a fact. That’s the essence about the $15 billion question.”

Speaking at the same forum, Mnangagwa called on all Zimbabweans to join in the collective fight against corruption and not just talk about it.

He was responding to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) board member Nelson Matongorere who had taken issue with the fact that the VP had not spoken about corruption in his keynote address.

“I understand the question on corruption has come from Zimra and I think my brother, if the people seated here are honest with you, during tea time, they’ll discuss with you about the corruption perception about Zimra,” chuckled Mnangagwa.

He noted that Matongorere’s comment created a perception that the government could be involved in corruption. “I don’t dispute it, but you’re excluding the private sector. My view is that corruption wherever it raises its ugly head must be fought and not talked about. We must cease talking about corruption but fight corruption.

“We want to hear ministers here with me including myself, permanent secretaries, directors in the government, wherever they’ve an opportunity, they should talk about the fight against corruption.

“I would like also to say captains of industry, whenever they’ve an opportunity to talk to their companies and the people, they should fight corruption, not only speak against it but fight it.”

Mnangagwa said if all Zimbabweans take a stand against corruption, the scourge would be nipped.

“Yes, we had an anti corruption commission which we’ve dissolved because we now needed another team or commission to investigate the commissioners that are leaving. We’ve just instituted another one two months ago and I believe their focus is fighting it and we shall continue to monitor whether they continue fighting it,” he said.

“Let it not be a duty of the government alone but let it be a duty for all of us who love our country to expose corruption wherever we see it, wherever we hear about it, let’s fight it.

“So my brother from Zimra perhaps you’re not very sociable otherwise you’ll be hearing what the people have to say about Zimra. I’ve no evidence, but I hear about those things so it’s good that you raised this issue.”. By Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor-source-chronicle.