Insiders told The Zimbabwean that the probe was targeting ordinary party supporters, especially from the youth wing, and senior party officials including cabinet ministers from Masvingo who are believed to have converted some of the gifts to their own use.
Masvingo province allegedly raised about $100 000 for Mugabe’s birthday bash, in addition to other goodies such as cattle wildlife meat and goats.
It has since been established that only $50 000 was used during the birthday celebrations held in Victoria Falls, raising strong fears that some of the money was abused by party officials while some animals meant for the function “disappeared” along the way.
Party supporters in Masvingo have since called for a “forensic” audit to find out how the cash and goods donated were used.
“We want the goods to be accounted for and all the money raised should be audited to ensure transparency,” said a highly placed source within the party.
“We have been informed that nearly half the money raised was abused while some of the donated animals never found their way to Victoria Falls,” said the source. “Once we have finished the probe obviously we are going to hand over the culprits to the police for possible prosecution,” added the source.
Acting Masvingo provincial chairman Paradza Chakona could neither deny nor confirm that some of the goods donated for Mugabe’s birthday went missing.
“We are at the moment auditing ourselves as to how much was raised from Masvingo and how it was used,” said Chakona. “We have received reports that some of the money and goods donated for the President went missing and it is premature for us to say really something was stolen.”
Sources said that the investigations were being done along factional lines with those who sympathized with former vice president Joyce Mujuru being targeted.
“It is actually a witch hunting exercise where those who sympathised with Mujuru are being targeted,” said the source.
President Mugabe, now the world’s oldest leader, turned 91 on February 21. The celebrations to mark his birthday were held on 28 February where a staggering $1 million was allegedly spent.
All the country’s provinces raised cash in addition to other goodies. A total of 91 cattle were allegedly slaughtered on the day. Some ruling Zanu (PF) supporters have since called for the establishment of a public holiday in the country in honour of the aged Mugabe’s birthday.
Post published in: News