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process and cater for civil servants’ salary increments threatens the inclusive Government’s existence, the Zanu-PF Politburo has warned.
In an interview after the Politburo met at the party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo, said they were prepared to pull out of the inclusive Government if it was not benefiting the populace.
“We are telling them that they are playing with fire – money must be released to Copac and for civil servants’ salaries.
“The President said the money is there and Minister Obert Mpofu (Mines and Mining Development) confirmed that the money from the diamonds is there.
“We are saying he (Minister Biti) has to act; if he does not act then we can walk out of the GPA.
“There is no reason to stay if it is not benefiting the people,” he said.
Cde Gumbo said Minister Biti’s refusal to provide funds for civil servants’ salaries was meant to create despondency within the population.
President Mugabe recently said civil servants should soon benefit from a diamond dividend.
Minister Biti has, however, claimed he has not seen the money and instead tried to institute investigations into the Mines Ministry.
However, no ministry can institute such investigations into another and neither can a Cabinet portfolio order statutory bodies – such as Zimra as Minister Biti has attempted – to carry out such probes as this compromises their constitutional independence.
On the constitution-making process, Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF was concerned with the delay in concluding the process.
“We are mainly concerned in the delay in releasing money to conclude the work of Copac. It is deliberate. The Ministry of Finance wants the situation we are in to continue,” he said.
Copac is saddled with a US$4 million debt and requires US$12 million to complete its work.
Cde Gumbo said President Mugabe will next week launch the anti-sanctions campaign that seeks to get two million Zimbabweans to sign a petition opposing the continued existence of illegal Western sanctions on the country.
The launch will be in Harare.
Online Reporter