Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga at the weekend appeared to take another dig at zvigananda, a colloquial term for the shadowy politically-connected elite.
Speaking during an Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Campaign at the New Highfield Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, where thousands of young people gathered to hear his message against addiction, Chiwenga lambasted the disunity in the country, saying: “Not that we should spend time being disturbed by (certain individuals).
“Some are even getting into drugs and you hear some saying ‘I will give you a car tomorrow’,” he said to cheers from the congregation.
This was in apparent reference to a Zanu PF benefactors who have been dishing out cars to perceived sympathisers of the ruling party, with tenderprenuer Wicknell Chivayo’s name coming out tops among individuals donating cars.
Chiwenga lamented that youths are perishing because of drug and substance abuse and urged them to abstain.
This is not the first time Chiwenga has taken a jibe at zvigananda, as in June this year, he chastised them for amassing unexplained wealth, warning that “the day of reckoning is coming”.
Without mentioning anyone by name, he used the term “zvigananda” — a Shona word for a tick engorged with blood — to refer to individuals who amass wealth with no clear and traceable work associated with their companies or organisations.
Speaking at a Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Annual Congress in Victoria Falls in June, Chiwenga said the country was witnessing a growing culture of so-called businessmen flaunting wealth with no known enterprises, in apparent reference to Chivayo.
That was after government had allegedly awarded a US$437 million tender to supply cancer equipment to Chivayo’s six-month-old company, TTM Global Medical Exports.
The company’s registered address was later found to be a hotel room in Johannesburg.
“We must shun unscrupulous, so-called businesspeople operating from briefcases with no traceable capital or legitimate enterprise. This culture of phantom entrepreneurship, where money appears without any known source, is not only economically-corrosive, but ethically bankrupt,” Chiwenga said to applause from delegates.
“We all know that money does not fall from the heavens like manna, the time of Moses is no longer here. Real businesses are built through hard work, discipline, sacrifice and value creation.
“The day of reckoning is inevitable for those who undermine our economic integrity by engaging in shadowy dealings. It’s coming.
“Let us not mortgage our nation’s future for fleeting gain. Equally imperative to this shared national and developmental vision is our collective stance on integrity and accountability.
“As we deepen public-private partnerships and catalyse economic growth, we must decisively shun corruption in all its ugly forms. There can be no room for rent-seeking behaviour and muddy practices in a modern competitive economy.”
At that time, Chiwenga also described corruption as a national security threat that should be addressed.
Zimbabwe is believed to be losing billions of United States dollars to corruption, smuggling of minerals and other illicit financial flows.
The VP’s targeting of businessmen with questionable wealth has been linked to the brewing battle to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
A faction loyal to Mnangagwa, which is backed by controversial businesspeople, is said to be fighting to block Chiwenga from succeeding the 82-year-old ruler.
The faction has been pushing the President to extend his term by two years to 2030 and discard two-term limits.
The faction is rallying behind businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei to rival Chiwenga.
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