His public statement at a police pass out parade comes hard on the heels of reports that Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuri, has applied for a mining licence on behalf of the police.
Mpofu’s argues, without providing any proof, that the US armed forces control mines in some parts of the world, and, therefore, if the goose has that privilege, the gander should have the same.
This kind of reasoning, coming from a person who claims to have studied for and obtained a doctorate, is very unfortunate.
It contains a fatal fallacy, because it makes reference to the US as an authority that should not be questioned. Mpofu also wants us to believe that he can justify whatever he decides by making reference to the US.
That is warped, of course. For example, I would not want to believe that killing people is desirable simply because some powerful western nation has been doing it.
In any case, it boggles the mind why Mpofu, like most of his ilk in Zanu (PF), are quick to paint the US, UK and others as saints when they want to wriggle out of sticky situations, when most of the time they want us to believe that these countries are the devil’s cauldron.
Back to the police and the army. Why has it become so important for the two to own mines now? Since independence in 1980, mineral deposits have been discovered across the country but at no time did we hear politicians urging the police or army to get claims.
The whole hullabaloo should be taken in context. Since the discovery of diamonds in Chiadzwa several years ago, reports have abounded of the military grabbing shares and running the mines. It is a fact that the military has been heavily involved in Chiadzwa from the start.
As Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, has always complained, there is no transparency in the manner in which the diamonds are being mined or the flow of revenue from the claims.
The optimism that characterised the discovery of the diamonds is fast waning. Instead of earning the billions crucial to mend the economy, the fiscus has received a mere trickle.
The natural conclusion is that there are powerful forces diverting revenue from the mines, and the wager is on the military and securocracy.
We don’t know where that money is being taken to, but it is safe to conclude that it is being used for both personal and institutional gains. Personal in the sense that certain individuals are smuggling the diamonds out of the country and lining their already fat pockets. Institutional in the sense that some of the money is being used to finance political formations, especially ahead of the watershed elections we are facing.
Mpofu should tell us what exactly he means when he says he is ready to give the police and army mining licences. Does he intend to transform them into commercial ventures?
Why does he believe that they would be able to run mines when they are failing to manage mere police posts and rural barracks? Why does he seem convinced all of a sudden that there are no competent people and companies to run the mines?
And why does he think the army and police deserve mining licences? Is it because they have brought independence and sovereignty to Zimbabwe?
This is laughable. A full Doctor of Philosophy setting out to try and convince us that it is the police and army that brought us independence!
My suggestion is that the dubious doctor should go back to school and learn a bit more about the history of Zimbabwe. This country was liberated by the people who are suffering today. Most of the police officers and soldiers who are in the ranks today were not even born at that time.
The idea of giving mines to the military and the police is just crazy, and the earlier Mpofu abandons it, the better.
Post published in: Opinions & Analysis