Tackle corrupt officials before bond notes, Zanu PF youth leader tells Mugabe

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

President Robert Mugabe must deal with corrupt high ranking officials, otherwise the introduction of bond notes will be futile, says a Zanu PF youth leader, James Pande who leads the Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Association.

Government is rattling towards the introduction of the bond notes in early November, insisting that they will help solve the prevailing cash crisis by improving foreign currency earnings through exports.

Pande, who rose to fame by designing an overalls label with Mugabe’s signature, accused senior public officials of bleeding the economy through graft.

Mugabe admitted at the weekend during the burial of Cephas Msipa, a former cabinet minister, at the National Heroes Acre, that his government was stuffed with corrupt officials.

He has over the decades been moaning about rampant corruption, but his critics accuse him of failing to decisively deal with the culprits.

Jonathan Moyo, the Higher and Tertiary Education minister, is currently in the eye of a storm for allegedly siphoning millions of dollars from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) that falls under his ministry.

Moyo has largely admitted to unprocedurally drawing money from the fund, but insists he must not be taken to task because he was financing Zanu PF activities and Mugabe’s birthday.

Mugabe reportedly stopped the police from arresting Moyo recently.

“Introduction of bond notes might be a solution to ease liquidity challenges, but as long as corrupt government officials are hiding behind the party and the First Family, and no action is taken against them, it remains a futile exercise.

“If they have the guts to steal billions and millions of US dollars and still walk scot free, what more of bond notes?” wrote Pande on his Facebook page.

“The President should not tolerate corrupt government officials, who hide behind his name and the party. It’s the duty of the police to investigate and bring culprits to book without fear or favour,” he added.

Moyo and his backers who include Zanu PF national commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, have accused a rival faction led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa of maliciously exposing the Higher and Tertiary Education minister. Nehanda Radio