Stop playing the tribal card, Zapu says to graft accused Moyo

By Mlondolozi Ndlovu

Former home affairs minister, Dumiso Dabengwa’s Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu) has warned higher and tertiary education minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo to stop using the tribal card in attempts to defend himself against corruption allegations which have followed him since last week.

Moyo stands accused of siphoning more than $400 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef).

The Zanu PF MP for Tsholotsho North has since taken to his favorite communication platform, twitter admitting diverting the funds towards development efforts in Tsholotsho.

The once firebrand Mugabe spin doctor was back again, this time in attempts to spin the scandal towards tribal victimisation through claims “tribalists” were out to torpedo his attempts to upgrade Tsholotsho, which has lagged behind in terms of development.

But Zapu, a political party which draws much of its support from the predominantly Ndebele Matabeleland region, would have none of that.

“Instead of pulling the tribal and factional card, Prof Jonathan Moyo should allow the law to take its course, have his individual rights to a fair justice system and be investigated for these allegations and an above board judicial process be followed,” Maphosa said.

Zapu also urged the current government to allow the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) to freely investigate any public official fingered in corruption, adding that President Robert Mugabe’s hands were not clean either.

“We also call upon Zacc to give the Minister the benefit of mentioning the names of those government officials he knows to be equally corrupt and they too be investigated and tried within their constitutional legal and justice rights for it is not a secret that the government of President Mugabe is corrupt right from the President himself to the very last officer in government,” the party said.

Zapu said corruption in the party was deep rooted and all Zimbabweans were supposed to shun it at all costs.

“Whether or not Jonathan Moyo stole ZIMDEF funds, let law take its course. Indeed Prof Moyo should carry his cross and clear himself or save time if found on the wrong side of the law.

“ZACC, the police and judiciary have the responsibility to rid the country of corruption while Prof Moyo has the obligation to prove his innocence. The same goes to all government officials and employees-it is their obligation to come clean on corruption and fraudulent activities.

“The nation is near death because of the deep rooted corruption and all well meaning Zimbabweans should condemn it with the contempt it deserves,” Maphosa said. Radio VOP