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Zimbabwe Presidency Seen Moving to Block Damning Parastatal Probe Reports


Sources said the presidency wants to block the release of damning reports on state enterprises that have been run for years by executives - often former military officers - named by Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF

As private auditors unearth corruption in Zimbabwean state enterprises, the office of President Robert Mugabe is said to be taking steps to wrest control of the parastatal sector from the Ministry of State Enterprises – now in the hands of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Sources said the presidency wants to block the release of damning reports on state enterprises that have been run for years by executives - often former military officers - named by Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

Auditors have uncovered rampant looting in most parastatals, amassing evidence against executives, managers and workers with close ties to ZANU-PF, sources informed on the audits said.

State Enterprises Minister Gorden Moyo has been tight-lipped over the issue, but sources said his probe has shaken the ZANU-PF establishment. They said ZANU-PF had expected senior executives to refuse to hand over key financial documents, but such documents have been provided by disgruntled employees.

Political and economic commentator Themba Dlodlo told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that a power grab in the state sector by ZANU-PF would be designed to protect its managers of military background.

"In this country, the executive is literally the president and nobody questions any activities taking place in the president's office," Dlodlo said, charging that the executive office wants to cover up corruption.

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