Zanu PF has no policy providing for the naming and shaming of businesspeople perceived to be corrupt, the party’s Acting Secretary for Administration, Patrick Chinamasa, has said.

He was commenting on the removal of Pupurai Togarepi, Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu from their Youth League positions after they accused three prominent businessmen of corruption without giving incontrovertible evidence.

In an interview yesterday, Chinamasa said where any citizen had evidence of corruption against any person, the correct procedure was to report to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the police or the Prosecutor-General so that the allegations could be investigated.
Zanu PF cadres, especially those in leadership positions, could never be said to speak in public in their individual or personal capacities.

“Naming and shaming that targets perceived successful businesspeople, be they black or white, breeds fertile ground for extortionist, rent-seeking behaviour and will have one outcome, that is hounding such people out of the country into exile which will not help this economy whose growth must be driven by local businesspeople.
“It is on the back of the local businesspeople that foreign investors will invest in Zimbabwe and will feel that Zimbabwe is open for business. What this country needs for its economic success is entrepreneurship and the likes of Strive Masiyiwa.

“If we can help to grow 10 or so Strive Masiyiwas in each of our 10 provinces, we would be on the road to meeting our President’s target of becoming an upper middle income country by 2030. The growth must be driven by local businesspeople.”

“If such leaders hold any personal views on politics and public affairs and such personal views differ from the party’s position and policies, they can only express such contrary views at their homes.

Otherwise they are not justified to complain where consequences follow their actions,” said Chinamasa.-State media