By Tererai Karinakwenda
04 July 2005

The Zimonline news site reports that Robert Mugabe earlier this year ordered the police not to charge State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa for allegedly stealing billions of dollars worth of equipment from former white-owned farms.
Police sources told Zimonline that the team investigating massive looting of equipment from former white farms in Manicaland province had unearthed a racket allegedly led by Mutasa. As the story goes, about US$250 000 worth of equipment was forcibly and illegally taken from the farms and kept at a warehouse belonging to a company owned by the minister.
Mutasa is a close of Mugabe's and is considered a possible future deputy to Mugabe's successor. He was appointed by Mugabe to the key post of secretary of administration of the ruling party, and is now also running the land redistribution programme and the distribution of food aid. This gives him much power as agriculture is crucial right now and food is the most important commodity.
The sources told Zimonline a special investigating team led by one Superintendent Maguramene began probing Mutasa last December and had in January this year recommended that he be arrested and prosecuted for stealing equipment from farms. But Mugabe allegedly intervened and the matter was closed.

Mugabe has said he will not defend anyone caught in illegal activities and once appointed Mutasa himself as the anti-corruption minister. At the time it was felt that Mugabe wanted to catch him with his hand in the cookie jar. But this revelation by Zimonline shows there was never any intention to arrest Mutasa.
Mutasa is not the only government official to be implicated in the theft of equipment since the farm invasions and evictions started 5 years ago. Without naming anyone, various cases have been reported by farmers of officials within the land ministry and cabinet who illegally acquired tractors and irrigation pipes and motors.