Top government officials are scrambling to loot state resources as uncertainty over their careers in the face of the possibility of the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) sends jitters among ZANU PF’s political elite, The Financial Gazette can reveal. Sources this week said in some government ministries and parastatals luxury vehicles were being offloaded to individuals at book value in an unprecedented asset stripping exercise. The phenomenon has spilled into the judiciary, where some judges last week received luxury vehicles with the option of purchasing those they received last year at way below market rates. The development comes amid allegations that senior ZANU PF officials in Mashonaland West province have been implicated in the looting of farm equipment as uncertainty grips the rank and file of the ruling party over a possible power sharing deal with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The Financial Gazette is reliably informed that nine suspected ruling party supporters and war veterans led by one Gilbert Moyo, and currently detained in Chegutu for looting farm equipment in the province, divulged out of court the involvement of ruling party MPs and management at parastatals in the case. “The looting is indicative of the realisation by a number of individuals that the game is up. They now know that they will have to look for other sources for sustenance,” a ruling party source said. Last week, The Financial Gazette reported on how former Mutare Commission chairperson Fungai Chayeruka had been awarded a lucrative package that includes a commercial stand and the purchase of 100 litres of fuel per month for three months at concessionary rates. Chayeruka, who chaired the commission for 14 months, will receive four months’ salary for every year served, a free cellphone and a line, a car at book value and sitting allowances for Pungwe Brewery meetings held between July last year and last month. He will be exempted from paying rates for eight months.

However, Chombo stated in a letter that the car to be sold to Chayeruka at book value should not be the official Mercedes Benz. Mutare City Council insiders claimed council would most likely sell Chayeruka a Nissan Hardbody (Wolf) he has been using during his one-year reign as chairperson of the city. The vehicle would be sold at a book value of $30 billion, which is not enough to buy a half-litre sachet of milk. Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC Manicaland spokesman, who is also the MP-elect for Makoni South, alleged that the government was bent on bankrupting the City of Mutare before the take-over of the local authority by his party. Ruling party sources said not everyone in ZANU PF welcomed the idea of a government of national unity as it meant loss of privileges, resulting from accommodation of MDC members.

Commercial farmers Union president Trevor Gifford yesterday said following the June 27 poll: “There has been a lot of looting. There has been a lot of stock theft on the farms.” Gifford said more and more people were coming up to occupy farms still remaining in white hands, apparently afraid that the opportunity to take over the properties might be lost with the coming in of a government of national unity (GNU). Ruling party sources yesterday said some party members were fearful that a GNU would result in them losing political leverage that has seen them accumulating wealth, while others were afraid of the possibility of being called to account for their misdeeds that have gone unpunished. “Some are not happy about the GNU, but President Mugabe has such a firm hand on his party, the rest will follow what he says even if they are reluctant. The same goes with the army, he has got such a firm hand,” a source said.

An analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity said Tsvangirai’s climbdown over the talks is informed by the realisation that Zanu PF’s desperation to engage in talks presents him with the best opportunity to pull off a better deal for his party, but remains with the problem of alienating his traditional backers, thereby leaving him politically vulnerable to ZANU PF. “He now realises that he can win elections from the people but power has to be negotiated from those who presently hold it. That is encapsulated by Tsvangirai’s owns words at the signing ceremony on Monday. He described President Mugabe as the leader of the ruling party and himself as the leader of the winning party,” the analyst said.

(Source)