The diamond conference at the Victoria Falls last week was overshadowed by allegations by the human rights organisation Partnership Africa Canada that billions of dollars in government revenue had been lost by corrupt diamond activities.
The report was predictably rubbished by Mines Minister M’puffed-up who has mysteriously emerged as one of the richest men in Zimbabwe. Cathy Buckle says in her latest diary: ‘Mpofu complained to delegates about the diamond watchdog groups: “How then are you expected to be transparent when there are hyenas chasing you?” he said. “They want to know what car you drive, which house you are living in and what plane you are flying.” The Minister’s gripes are a world away from the grinding struggle of ordinary mums in the heat and dust as they try to keep their families clean and healthy with only eight litres of water per person per day. There’s something desperately wrong with Zimbabwe’s priorities.’
It’s clear that a parallel Zanu (PF) treasury is receiving vast amounts of looted money to pay for such things as the vote-buying $20 million ‘Presidential’ agricultural input scheme.
The Vigil is dismayed that President Zuma seems to have disengaged from the Zimbabwe question at its most crucial point. We understand he is preoccupied by the ANC conference next month which could, conceivably, send him out to pasture with Mbeki.
Post published in: World News