Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Zanu PF anger as Gono hires MDC-T's Biti
18/12/2013 00:00:00
by Gilbert Nyambabvu

A DECISION by former central bank governor, Gideon Gono, to hire MDC-T’s Tendai Biti for his corruption fight has left a few nickers in a twist among the Zanu PF hierarchy with some top officials questioning his loyalty to the party.

Gono’s former charge at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Munyaradzi Kekere, who is now an MP, has revived allegations that the ex-governor looted millions of dollars in public funds from the apex bank.

Kereke, last week, filed an application at the Constitutional Court which seeks to force the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to investigate the allegations against his former boss.

Among a raft of claims, Kereke alleges that Gono, long considered a confidant and financial adviser of President Robert Mugabe, took more than US$37.5 million, R1,4 million and more than £21,500 pounds in state funds which he converted to his personal use.

According to the Zanu PF-leaning Herald newspaper, Gono has hired former finance minister and MDC-T secretary general, Tendai Biti, to represent him in the case.

Gono, who left the bank in November after being at the helm for ten years, has since been recommended to become Zanu PF’s senator in Manicaland province, replacing the late Kumbirai Kangai.
Senior party officials not named by the paper told the Zanu PF Herald that they were disturbed by Gono’s links with Biti.

“Gono on Monday hired Biti to represent him in a fraud case in which he and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission will appear before the Constitutional Court,” said one of the officials.

“What is disturbing is the fact that this is happening at a time when he (Gono) wants to be Zanu PF senator for Buhera yet his trust and faith in Biti is so overwhelming,” he said.

Another top official said Zanu PF “must consider the implications of giving Gono the Buhera seat when he is wining and dining with the enemy”.

“He is determined to undermine the party and its leadership, especially now after his bid to have his term as RBZ Governor extended failed. We ought to be careful with him,” he said.
Equally unimpressed was a politburo member said to have “links to the military”

“We have been told that some people in MDC-T want to besmirch the image of the military and other security servives and they think they can get help from Gono in doing this. We sincerely hope he does not go rogue,” the unnamed official said.

Labels: COURTS, GIDEON GONO, MDC TREASON, MUNYARADZI KEREKE, TENDAI BITI

posted by MrK @ 5:44 PM