... as the List of RBZ farm Mechanisation Scheme Beneficiaries is now in the public domain
The world now knows who benefited from the controversial Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe(RBZ) Farm Mechanisation Scheme. Thanks to the Big Saturday Read (BSR). What a comprehensive list? Well done BSR.
On 18 July 2020, the BSR published a comprehensive list of people who benefited from the mechanisation scheme that was facilitated by the Central Bank prior to December 2008. The list is dominated by politicians, relatives of politicians, the clergy and law enforcers. The categorisation of the list seems to show that the beneficiaries go beyond one political party, church or sector.
While some critics may want to argue that the BSR list was or is possibly incomplete, the BSR platform has vindicated key players in public finance management sector. The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development(ZIMCODD), has been vociferous when it comes to public resources mismanagement.
In 2015, ZIMCODD called for the setting up of a Public Debt Audit Commission to deal with all public debts that stood in the way of social and economic development in Zimbabwe. While this was a traditional call by ZIMCODD, the push was accelerated in 2015, partly in response to the gazetting of the Debt Assumption Bill by the Government. The bill had been gazetted in June 2014 to address the Central Bank’s $1.12 billion debt that it had incurred through the farm mechanisation scheme.
ZIMCODD, led a national campaign against the move by the Government. It mobilised its membership against the debt assumption by the Government. ZIMCODD argued then, and still holds the same position today, that the people who had benefited from the scheme were and are still alive. They needed and still need to settle their own debts. These people(whoever they were then?, but through the BSR, we now know them), had borrowed the resources for their own private and individual purposes. The money had not benefited the public. I had not benefited from it myself, so is my mother in Mavorovondo area, down in Mberengwa. Yet, the Government now forced the ordinary citizen to shoulder the burden through the Government. This was the simple but unpalatable (at least to the then Mugabe regime) argument from the ZIMCODD family.
ZIMCODD convinced other key players and the campaign against the bill gained momentum. I remember very well, travelling over night with Leonard Mandishara of NANGO to Bulawayo, to sell the idea of resistance against the ‘illegitimate’ move by the Government. The ground was prepared for resisting the bill. The strategies were crafted in the engine room at ZIMCODD. The engineers were Patricia Kasiyamhuru, Janet Zhou, Grace Mugebe, Grace Chikodzi, Clarity Sibanda, Tendai Bobo, myself( Tinashe Gumbo) and indeed our able Board.
Through the ” _Cheuka_ , _Khangelemuva_ , Look Back” platform, ZIMCODD received much needed support from politicians too. The then MDC Chief Whip (my own brother), Innocent Gonese and the then vibrant Kuwadzana East legislator, Nelson Chamisa and others from the Parliament pushed the ZIMCODD position. Indeed, they argued that the bill was not supposed to pass until the Central Bank published the debtors. Unfortunately, the numbers game ruled. The bill passed through 115 ZANU PF votes against MDC’s 37 votes. At least the 37 legislators stood with the people. They went down fighting. I remember very well, the opposition legislators led by the Mkoba Legislator, Amos Chibaya trying hard but in vain to influence the vote last minute ( _Kuedza_ _kufudzira_ _mombe_ _pashowa_ ) . It was a toll order indeed. Some insiders from ZANU PF indicate that two female and two male Legislators had been advocating against the bill. Unfortunately, the whipping system pushed them to the other side and voted against their own conscience. At least, history noted their good intentions for the development of the country.
By the way, as per the provisions of our Constitution, ZIMCODD also attempted the petition way. Everything was done in this regard. Alliances with some civic organisations and individual Legislators were built. Then Mabvuku Legislator, James Jimmy Maridadhi, offered to sponsor the process in Parliament. Unfortunately, ZIMCODD lost it on technicalities.
At least the ZIMCODD had done all it could have done to save the situation. History recorded that once upon a time, a social and economic justice movement stood with the people. And… today, the ZIMCODD stands vindicated. The publication of the beneficiary list by the BSR yesterday, has recandled the discussions around the need for auditing our public debt. ZIMCODD is expected to take a lead in advocating for this. Indeed, the organisation has been pushing for that audit, hence now is the time to engage the speed gear. Legal minds need to be engaged too to explore further possibilities under the circumstances. Of course, the real owners of the movement, the ZIMCODD membership should be consulted for the wayforward. _The_ _struggle_ _for_ _social_ _and_ _economic_ _justice_continues__ !