SEVERAL Ministers from the MDC formations face investigations over the source of their "sudden wealth" as part of a campaign by Zanu PF to discredit its rivals ahead of elections expected next year.
According to the weekly Financial Gazette newspaper, the smear campaign would target key figures such as Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Energy Minister Elton Mangoma as well as MDC leader Welshman Ncube.
Nathaniel Manheru, a blogger with the Zanu PF-leaning Herald newspaper who is believed to be Presidential spokesperson George Charamba hinted at the strategy last Saturday, warning: “The MDC has failed both the competence test and the integrity test.
"It wallows in countless scandals, its officials now numbering among the richest, especially by way of real estate. I shall have occasion to trace for the reader this property labyrinth traceable to MDC ministers who are hardly four years in their portfolios, on a paltry salary.
"Only then will it become plain that all the carping about Chiadzwa is but diversionary talk. The list is about ready. That is the beauty about an election season, is it not? No holds are barred.”
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said he was not aware of the planned investigations. But MDC-T spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora, said his party was aware of a plot by Zanu PF to manufacture allegations against its leaders.
“We know that Zanu PF is trying to manufacture stories against our leaders and it’s nothing new,” he said.
“The fact of the matter is that our deployees in government - our ministers, our deputy ministers, our Prime Minister, our Deputy Prime Minister - have done very well to improve the lot of the people of Zimbabwe.”
MDC vice president, Edwin Mushoriwa, said if anyone should be investigated over the source of their wealth it was the top leadership of Zanu PF.
“Some Zanu PF ministers are the ones who have been mentioned now and then in relation to corruption,” he said.
“The integrity of our people in government is unquestionable. Our councillors have never been found on the wrong side when it comes to corruption. All our Members of Parliament were never mentioned in the looting of the Constituency Development Fund.”
Several MDC-T councillors have been implicated in corrupt dealings especially in the allocation of land in their respective municipalities around the country as well as stripping councils of their assets.
Activists have expressed disquiet over the sudden wealth of MDC-T Ministers although insisting any corrupt conduct by party officials pales into insignificance when compared to Zanu PF.
Said South Africa-based activist and former regional spokesman, Sibanengi Dube, on his Facebook Wall: “Tales of the abrupt opulence of MDC cabinet ministers, councillors and mayors are dominating headlines in both the liberated and partisan media.
“The majority of ministers are accused of double-dipping in government coffers. Some are alleged to have been caught with their fingers in public cookie-jars. Some are said to be cutting deals in government offices.
“All these (allegations) have been easily dismissed by MDC characters as Zanu PF affronts to dishonour Machinjas. But the overt opulence of MDC ministers is not easy to dismiss.”