“In yet another controversial move, President Mnangagwa has published an Extraordinary Government Gazette exempting the newly renamed sovereign wealth fund from complying with the Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act. Public procurement is a major arena of corruption. This brings into question the government’s accountability over the Mutapa Investment Fund and how public money will be protected from looters. Ownership of 20 state-owned companies has already been transferred to Mutapa. They include National Railways, AirZim, NetOne, TelOne. The Procurement Act is important in safeguarding public finances and assets from abuse. It is meant to ensure that public procurement and the disposal of public assets are effected in a manner that is transparent, fair, honest, cost-effective and competitive” (The News Hawks, 29.09.2023).
If you thought the trash-collecting scheme in Harare was wild or the Command Agriculture Scam during the previous term of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Well, think again, because things will get hectic.
The previous scams was within one tender and one field. Now the President and the ZANU-PF has a massive load and opportunities to siphon funds. This exemption from the PDPA Act is perfect for the State Owned Enterprises and whoever else whose in-charge of the Mutapa Investment Fund. They are now off the hook and won’t need to be held accountable either. That is the authority and stamp of approval they needed from the President.
It is just striking how quickly he seemed to do this. The plot is already think and there is little wiggle room to see it differently. The exemption is clearly a devise to undermine the law and whoever the Mutapa Investment Fund are supposed to answer for. The Sovereign Wealth Fund is now an entity that can be run as “they” see “fit”.
That is bound to be a heist. A daylight robbery and the public get to watch. The gold will be stolen. The diamonds will be gone. The monies for the transport and the gigs are gone too. Whatever needed for other enterprises will suddenly go missing. It is just a blatant disregard of the people and honest service delivery.
The President by issuing this is sending the signal that now is the time to make his bank-account pregnant. It is time to get dollars baby and sing the money dance. That is what his up too and his confident about it too.
This shows what the ZANU-PF is up too and no one should be shocked. The ZANU-PF have gotten away with it for years and they are not stopping anytime soon. The reason for them to govern is to eat and not to serve. They are there to serve own interest and not the people. That’s why laws can be bended these ways and the high ranking officials can collect.
Trust me… money will flow and the ones who is anointed will get a pay-off. The ones that whistle-blow or dares to speak out will be shunned or silenced completely. Because, this is the patriotic mission of ZANU-PF. The regime of Mnangagwa is only there to continue yesterdays agony and not change for the better. Peace.
MinBane 