Minister Mangwana confirms investigations into looting of Ziscosteel

By Violet Gonda
29 September 06

The Zimbabwe Independent newspaper has revealed that authorities are trying to cover-up the wholesale looting of state-owned assets at steel-making company Ziscosteel, by burying the detailed report which exposes one of the biggest cases of graft by ministers and Members of Parliament.

Anti-Corruption Minister Paul Mangwana confirmed in an interview with SW Radio Africa that his ministry had embarked on complex investigations “about corruption, fraud and other ills in economic crimes at Ziscosteel.”

But he denied any knowledge of ministers involved in the plunder. He said; “At the moment I am not aware of that. I have even asked the person who was alleged to have made that allegation and I am sure he made the retraction yesterday because we don’t have evidence at the moment that there are any senior government officials in the alleged corruption.”

Obert Mpofu the Minister of Industry and International Trade allegedly made the statements. He was quoted last week as saying "influential people had pillaged Ziscosteel through underhand dealings that have left the company bleeding."

Mangwana confirmed hearing that these remarks were made during a meeting between a parliamentary portfolio committee responsible for industry and the minister responsible for Industry and Trade. “It is at that meeting I am informed that allegations that there are some ministers and senior government officials involved in corruption, were made. But I don’t have any evidence placed before me to confirm.”

Commenting on the minister’s statements, political analysts Dr John Makumbe said; “Paul Mangwana is a small fish. He is a small boy in the Zanu PF cabinet and so he is desperate to keep his job and he is not going to ruffle any feathers… when you touch people’s corruption they don’t debate with you, they kill you.”

Minister Mpofu is now reported to have changed his statement linking the government officials to corruption.

Asked what the investigations had revealed so far and which companies had been implicated Paul Mangwana said he could not comment on companies involved or to what extent the country’s steel making company had been looted save to say; “Investigations are underway and I fear to prejudice them.”

The Zimbabwe Independent reports that ministers who had spoken out publicly about the high-profile corruption detailed in the report are said to have been intimidated into changing their remarks, even those recorded in parliament.

Makumbe said this is how opaque the Mugabe government is. “There is no transparency. The report that brought out elements of corruption at ZISCO should have been made public. But it wasn’t. Obert Mpofu was actually speaking to a parliamentary committee and he wouldn’t have actually lied.”

It's feared this report is likely to suffer the fate of similar previous investigations which were buried to protect corrupt government officials.

But Mangwana said; “No that is not true. That is not true. When we are through with the investigations the public will know.” He claimed the investigations will take between two to three months saying this is because “the matter is complex because it involves us visiting neighbouring countries to find out the kind of trade relations which were taking place between Zisco and various other countries in Southern Africa.”

Makumbe said Mangwana appears rational but believes he is not going to ruffle any feathers and point out the real thieves in this case.