By Takudzwa Changadeya
Self-exiled former Zanu PF political commissar and Cabinet minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has accused the ruling party leader President Emmerson Mangagwa’s family of jobbery, and manipulation of position of trust to loot wealth through clandestine illicit deals at the expense of struggling citizens.
Kasukuwere, who was removed from government in late 2017 during a military coup that replaced ex-president Robert Mugabe with Mnangagwa, recently joined the presidential race ahead of this year’s general elections set for August 23.
He announced his candidature on Monday, adding that he will be proceeding to file his candidature in the nomination court on Wednesday.
In a letter seen by BustopTV, Kasukuwere said the obscenity of Munangagwa family’s sudden wealth is a clear evidence of its engagement in illicit deals that have never been challenged or disapproved.
“The allegations that his family and associates have preferential access to foreign currency at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe have never been challenged or disproved.
“It is known that from Sandawana to Makaha his family has taken over gold mining, including having shares in government companies. You are all aware that his family has taken over imports, distribution, and sale of fuel.
“You are all aware that his family and associates are involved in almost all the multi-billion-dollar Belarus deals,” Kasukuwere said.
“It has become common cause that once gold and other precious minerals are discovered, the Mnangagwa associates and family move in to claim the deposits ahead of others.”
Fuming Kasukuwe said Mnangagwa should not make any case against Mugabe saying the latter was surrounded by criminals, yet a crooked coterie within his administration was recently exposed by Al Jazeera facilitating illicit outflows of gold.
“Ironically, the ‘Gold Mafia’ expose, the arrest of public figures at the airport over gold smuggling, the lavish lifestyles of his family, some of whom have never worked a day in their lives, shows that persons very close to Cde Mnangagwa engage in various illicit businesses,”
“Mnangagwa are in possession of export permits and that they are exporting it without any money to the treasury. The looting from the state must stop.” Said Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwe added that Mnangagwa can not win free and fair elections and should allow people to decide a better president for themselves.
“Our position was and remains clear, that without intimidation, and abuse of state institutions, Cde Mnangagwa could never have won and cannot win any leadership position in a fair and open political process,” he said.
He said Mnangagwa rewards the elite of the public service, yet the generality of the civil service is wallowing in abject poverty.
“No attempt has been made to explain why Cde Mnangagwa can buy over 800 campaign vehicles but cannot provide ambulances, cancer machines at our referral hospitals.
“This speaks to his indifference to the suffering of Zimbabweans,” he said.
