By Grace Chekai
Citizens have condemned the duplicity of the opposition party, MDC-Alliance, for failing to accept the arrest of its own members on corruption, whilst at the same time accusing Government of not doing enough to curb the vice. This comes after the arrest of Harare City Council (HCC) Mayor, Herbert Gomba, yesterday on allegations of illegal land deals and abuse of office.
The MDC-Alliance National Spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, then wrote a statement condemning the arrest saying it was unconstitutional.
Responding to Mahere on his Twitter handle today, the Permanent Secretary of Information, Broadcasting Services and Publicity, Ndabaningi Mangwana posted, “Polarisation is unhelpful. It appears one side of the political divide accepts and supports the arrest of its leaders on suspicion of corruption. The other side never accepts the existence of corruption in its midst even when someone has cut off and sold a golf course for stands.”
One netizen known as Dr Provider lambasted the statement saying, “When it comes to corruption in the opposition they will say its persecution and find ways to bury their heads in the sand. The party needs to own up to its mistakes”
Another netizen, Charity Makedenge said that the MDC-Alliance had “double standards, if their members commit corruption and get arrested its “unconstitutional”, but if its Zanu PF members, then its deserved. Corrupt people are across the board.
“They were ecstatic when the former Minister of Health and Child Care Obadiah Moyo was arrested and expelled on allegations of corruption and abuse of office. Now Gomba has been arrested of corruption, they are trying to find excuses. Truly something is wrong somewhere, somehow. This is unacceptable” Makedenge said.
However, the Preservation of Urban Councils` Assets (PUCAT) has applauded Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for the splendid work it has done so far when it apprehended the main culprits in the Harare land deals scandals.
“We would however want to put it to all Harare residents that it has come to our attention that the embattled City of Harare councillors sold at least three low density residential stands to bribe law enforcement agency including some members of the judiciary,” it said.
