Masimirembwa better, not bitter

By Makomborero Mutimukulu

Former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) chairman Mr Godwills Masimirembwa has declared himself relieved and ready to work under President Mugabe’s leadership after being cleared of demanding and receiving a US$6 million bribe.

Speaking for the first time since Mugabe publicly exonerated him of allegedly getting the bribe from Ghanaian investors who wanted to mine diamonds in Marange, Mr Masimirembwa last week told The Sunday Mail that events that have unfolded over the past six months have made him a better, and not bitter, man.

“I am a stronger man, a man who is much more respectful of my hero, President Mugabe, because he has shown to be a man of principle.

“How many men of authority would have gone on national television to say ‘Masimirembwa is not guilty after all’? Most would have just ignored the matter to avoid what they deemed to be a climbdown,” he said.

In September last year President Mugabe told a luncheon held for lawmakers that Government aimed to get to the bottom of allegations that Mr Masimirembwa had demanded and received a US$6 million bribe from the Ghanaians.

However, in an interview to mark his 90th birthday aired on ZBC TV last month, the President cleared Mr Masimirembwa, highlighting that the Ghanaians had misled the nation.

“Twakatinyepera twuvakomana itwotwo. You see, liars. In the meantime they did not bring any money at all. Even iya yataiti yakatorwa naMasimirembwa.

“No! “They had given the story kuti they had brought some money, was it US$5 million or US$6 million, yakatorwa?

“They were busy here smuggling gold and selling it vachitova nearrangement neSouth African group and that is why one of the two was arrested,” said the President. Mr Masimirembwa, meanwhile, added that he was not bitter with President Mugabe.

“Look, on the 17th of September 2013, the President had every right to be very angry because someone close to him, someone he trusted, had given him information that I had received a US$6 million bribe.

“Gushungo is a man who does not tolerate corruption and his reaction to such information was justified,” he said.

“However, I must highlight what a lot of people missed in the President’s speech in September is that he said ‘we will see as investigations unfold’.

“They ignored the fact that the President is a stickler to the rule of law as proven by the way he allowed due process to unfold and yield the results which are now in the public domain.

“On my part I was always confident that I will be exonerated because I believe in my President as well as the capacity and professionalism of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other law enforcement agents.”

He, however, conceded that his life took a nasty turn after events of September 17 with people he believed to be his friends “deserting” him.

“I became an outcast and realised I have very few friends,” said the ex-ZMDC boss. “My family was worried, naturally, my kids had to deal with being told that ‘your father is a thief’ among other unsavoury statements.

“Even myself, you know, I would at times think that maybe today the police will be knocking on my door, I will be in leg irons and all sorts of things.

“However, after everything is said and done, I am a stronger man and ready to continue with life at the Zimbabwe Institute of Legal Studies where I am deputy director as well as in any other capacity that Zanu-PF or the Government will hand me.”

He also disclosed that he did not meet President Mugabe after the September 2013 luncheon despite having publicly requested to do so in order to give his “side of the story”.

The police, he said, did not question him either with the only “interview” he had being conducted by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Walter Chidhakwa. The Sunday Mail