Enforce anti-graft measures: Buyanga

Controversial businessman Frank Buyanga has renewed his calls for an economic surveillance and monitoring unit under the President’s Office to instill confidence, and a sense of discipline among Zimbabwe’s parastatals, as the country hankers for the much-needed recovery.

This also comes as Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said “no one is above the law” in the current corruption shakeout and the Hamilton Group founder has twice written to President Robert Mugabe’s officials about the need for this envisioned outfit since November 2013.

“As per my previous correspondence of 2013, 2014 and 2015 regarding my observations, and economic warnings… witnessed by the seemingly growing disconnect. I pointed out the relevance of parastatals… for cohesion, social upliftment, blockage of human capital flight, balance of payments and trade integrity..,” Buyanga said in a September 30 to state residences director Innocent Tizora, adding “we still have another bite of the cherry if we set up the suggested… strategy unit.

“…as a national duty, I would only be willing to assist… uncorrupted security sectors. It is not only obvious to the naked eye, but reports on the police and anti-corruption sectors leave a lot to be desired,” the South Africa-based businessman noted, suggesting further that a “total weed out of bad apples, if not saboteurs, within these crucial socio-economic segments of law enforcement and State-owned enterprises would help regain confidence for the much-needed recovery”.

Buyanga said if such an autonomous and specialised monitoring unit was setup, Zimbabwe could “earn or realise as much as $100 million in additional equity or funding within the next calendar year.

As part of his pledge and support for this initiative, the maverick businessman said he was willing to pay the Harare administration $1 million-plus.

Buyanga’s calls not only come after his November 2013 dispatches to ex-Zimbabwe Defence Industries chief executive Tshinga Dube and another one in January last year to Tizora, and virtually rallying the same cause, but Zimbabwe’s military has also waded into the corruption debate by calling on Mugabe’s government to tackle the scourge as it has become a national threat.

According to the self-styled property investor and financier, such bold measures are needed to turn around the fortunes of entities across agriculture, mining, energy, transport, education, health, financial services and the tourism sectors.

These include the Cold Storage Commission, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, National Railways of Zimbabwe and many others needing urgent reform. Daily News