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Kuda Bwititi in Mhondoro
PRESIDENT Mugabe has bemoaned the dearth of good morals, and — exhibiting his deep-seated Catholic beliefs — implored the nation to rediscover itself.
Greed and dishonesty, he said, had grown into a national crisis as people in influential public and private sector positions opted for corruption. The President was speaking at the 80th birthday celebrations of his niece, Mbuya Petronella Nhetekwa, in Mhondoro.
The celebrations coincided with the 12th anniversary of the death of Mbuya Nhetekwa’s husband, Mr Paul Samuel Nhetekwa.
Said the President: “Pane patiri kupotsa mafamilies edu. Where have we gone wrong because it’s a pattern everywhere? You do a business then you must expect that those you put in charge imbavha, huzhinji wavo.
“Out of a 100 managers vari mumabusiness vanzi ‘batai, ndimi vakuru pano, at least 90 percent of them are thieves. Zvaakutikanganisa kuti tiri munyika yakaita sei? Private sector, ku public sector, hazvinei kuti arikupi . . . mabusiness ehurumende or mabusiness evanhu.”
President Mugabe said workers at his dairy enterprise had fleeced the business of large amounts of money, resulting in the project failing to grow in line with projections.
“Ini ndakati ndavakutanga business redairy. Tanga tisati tasvika pacheese. Tanga tangosvika pama ice-cream. Chiona zvanga zvichiitika: hapana anotaura kuti mari takaisa pakati. Ava vanotengese vouya nemari inongoiswa mutsapo, mainorongedzwa ichipihwa vamwe kuti, ‘Iwewe chienda kwakati, kwakati.’ Accounting yacho irikupi?”
He went on: “Vamwe vakaita accounting dzizere asi havadi kutevera tsika yekubata business nayo kuitira kuti pasave nechinoratidza kuti humbavha hwavanoita hwabuda pachena; kuvanzuridza. Takatotora mamanagers eku Ernst and Young and zvavarikukudubura ipapo zvinotopa nyadzisa. Pane rimwe divi Mai Mugabe vairima mapotatoes panzvimbo dzakati kuti. Mapotatoes aita paye zvava kutengeswa; tsapo pavanowana US$400, youya vaakunyora US$40. Ko mumwe zero akadzimwa nani?”
On spiritual matters, President Mugabe said, “Where is our religion going wrong? Vanhu varikungoenda kumachurch seavo varikuenda kunoona vanaCaps ne Highlanders vachitamba bhora … Kana varikuenda vari pachokwadi kuti vave nekusimudzirwa hupenyu nemweya, nezviito zvechokwadi.”
The President castigated promiscuity, warning that children born in broken families encountered numerous challenges.
It was better to be formally polygamous than promiscuous, he added.
President Mugabe advocated self-sustenance across all social spheres, including the Church.
President Mugabe paid tribute to Gogo Nhetekwa, whom, he said, was held in high esteem by his late mother, Mbuya Bona Mugabe. He said Gogo Nhetekwa and Mbuya Bona, both devout Catholics, had shown integrity and kindness – qualities now rare among young people. Present at the celebrations were ministers Walter Chidhakwa, Ignatius Chombo, Faber Chidarikire and Advocate Martin Dinha, and other senior Government officials. Several Roman Catholic priests were also present.
Online Reporter