MANICALAND Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene has admitted
that the $15 billion diamond loot in Chiadzwa exposed the Zanu PF leadership in
the province, as the alleged scam was conducted under their noses.
The outspoken minister made the remarks last Friday
at the Zimpapers’ Diamond FM launch in Mutare, where she said all Zanu PF
politicians in the province were hanging their heads in shame after they failed
to sniff out the looters.
“Wherever we are invited, together with Information
minister Christopher Mushohwe, we don’t want to be recognised, as we are
ashamed because the diamond looting was done under our watch,” she was quoted
in the private press as saying.
President Robert Mugabe broke the news of the
missing $15 billion diamond revenue in an interview to mark his 92nd birthday
in March this year, saying Treasury had received $2 billion since diamond
mining operations started in 2008.
Chimene, who, two years ago, replaced Mushohwe as
Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister, also admitted that she had failed to
push the diamond mining companies to honour their $50 million pledges to the
Zimunya Marange Community Share Ownership Trust.
Turning to Mutare City Council, she said the local
authority was now geared for fresh investments following a government-initiated
clean-up campaign, which exposed massive corruption, which implicated top
council officials and councillors.
“There were things that were affecting us in the
city. We had a shake-up at Mutare City Council, but we are not sleeping trying
to wipe out corruption in the city,’’ she said.
Chimene was instrumental in pushing for a
government audit, which led to the resignation of Mutare town clerk Obert
Muzawazi.