By Richard Muponde
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson yesterday distanced his boss from claims made by former State Enterprises and Parastatals minister Gorden Moyo that he protected corrupt ministers during the time of the inclusive government.
Moyo told delegates at a Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z)-organised workshop in Harare on Tuesday that he nearly landed himself in trouble for giving President Robert Mugabe a dossier implicating 11 Zanu PF and four MDC-T ministers in corruption.
Moyo claimed that Tsvangirai and Mugabe warned him that the issue of corruption should never be a “newspaper thing”.
Moyo said corruption was deeply institutionalised and difficult to deal with.
He said Mugabe knew that corruption had been “State-institutionalised”.
But Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka yesterday scoffed at Moyo’s claims, saying his boss had a record of fighting corruption and not perpetrating it.
“There was never such a discussion with Tsvangirai. Moyo never brought such a document to him.
“It’s a matter of sour grapes and he just wants to soil Tsvangira’s name. It’s understandable in those circumstances,” Tamborinyoka said.
“Tsvangirai has a strong history of fighting corruption.
“He’s the only leader who was in government who fired an entire council for corruption. I think you remember the whole Chitungwiza Town Council was fired for being involved in corruption. He has no legacy of shielding corrupt people. So those claims are unfounded.”
Moyo is a former confidant of Tsvangirai and was handpicked by the former Premier as Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office before being elevated to the State Enterprises and Parastatals portfolio after he became the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson and Makokoba MP.
The two appear to have had a fallout as Moyo later resigned from chairing the MDC-T in Bulawayo citing a deficiency in leadership and violence.
He has been linked with the breakaway MDC-T Renewal Team although he has remained silent on his alleged involvement.
Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba could not be reached for comment as his mobile number continually rang unanswered. NewsDay
