Finance and Economic Planning Minister Patrick Chinamasa
has defended Home Affairs and Culture Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, saying
allegations of corruption levelled against him are unfounded since he
accumulated much of his wealth before joining Government.
Minister Chinamasa said this in the National Assembly on
Thursday while responding to an avalanche of queries from some legislators on
how Dr Mpofu got his wealth.
Mabvuku-Tafara Member of Parliament (MP) Mr James Maridadi
(MDC-T) and Norton MP Mr Temba Mliswa (Independent) said Dr Mpofu’s acquisition
of several assets, including mines, raised eyebrows as he could have bought
them during his time as the Minister of Mines and Mining Development.
During debate on the 2018 National Budget, the two
legislators called for Dr Mpofu to be investigated.
Minister Chinamasa noted that though he holds no brief for
Dr Mpofu, most of the allegations that were being made lacked merit since they
were unsubstantiated.
“I first met Honourable Mpofu around 1984 when I was going
to Gaborone, Botswana with my family for a visit,” he said.
“We met at Plumtree and he was already a businessman. Later
on, when I was an Attorney-General, I think I wanted to speak to him and he
took me to his building. He had already bought it in 1998 — a very expensive
building in Bulawayo. I am just telling you of facts that I know. I cannot
defend him if there is anything or any monkey business. You know where the
problem is Honourable Maridadi? We are not accustomed to see a rich African. We
are very much comfortable to see a rich white person, but when we see a rich
black man, we conclude that he is a thief. This is not a fair comment.”
Minister Chinamasa said legislators ought to know that some
people had sweated for their wealth from loans and debts from financial
institutions.
“I am not entrepreneurial, but there are some people who
borrow heavily and most of the things that you see, you would think that they
have spent cash,” he said.
“Look into it, zvikwereti (loans). Some people are
risk-takers. You would not go and borrow $3 million. I would not dare.
Probably, I would go for $50 000 or $100 000 — ndinenge ndatopedza ( I will be
done), but there are some people who take risks, if the bank rikangobwaira
chete (snoozes), they will borrow $5 million.
“What they do with that money is up to them. If they have
any debts, normally vanombokunyara kana uriminister (they might be extra courteous
if you are a minister). Kana usisiri Minister (if you are no longer a
minister), before you reach home, kunenge kwatove netsamba (they would already
be a letter of demand).”
Minister Chinamasa implored people to desist from making
unfounded allegations against people because of their wealth.
“This is because at the end of the day, I have no
obligation to tell you whatever I am doing, except when we come to disclose of
our assets,” he said.
“Even then, we want to make it confidential because you do
not want to say, when I make a disclosure you say ‘akaiwana kupi’(where did he
get it).
“I have been employed as a lawyer since 1972. Now, you
cannot ask me if I have got any assets. Not that I have any. You cannot ask me
kuti ndakazviwana kupi iwe wakauya zuro (you cannot ask where I got my wealth
when you arrived on the scene late).
“You were only born yesterday and you want to equate
yourself to someone who has been in this game for all this long. I am not in
any way fighting for Cde Mpofu in his corner. I am just telling you what I
know.”
Minister Chinamasa said there was nothing wrong with Dr
Mpofu owning a mine.
“I know some honourable members here who own mines,” he
said.
“So, if one day you are appointed a minister and you own a
mine, I do not see any problem.
“Let us get used to people owning assets — it is not evil.
So, we do not want people to be disqualified because they own assets. Let us
take, for example, Tillerson. He was in the oil business, was he not?
Tillerson, the State Secretary in the United States of America’s government, he
is himself probably a billionaire or something.
“In fact, in that Cabinet there are billionaires, they have
got assets, but they declare the assets and pursue the national interest.”
Herald
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