At the time of his appointment as Governor, it was generally felt in government circles that the economic crisis was largely a direct consequence of corruption and financial indiscipline in the private sector.
The thinking in government was that by using the Prevention of Corruption Act, the economy would rid itself of alleged corruption and in so doing lift the country up. Regrettably this has not happen hence the shift of emphasis to targeted sanctions as the source of the economic and political crisis confronting Zimbabwe.
Notwithstanding the change of focus to sanctions removal, there has not been any fundamental change in thinking on whether in fact victimising businesspersons yielded the kind of results expected. The first victim was ENG Capital and its shareholders. Then came James Makamba, and with him externalisation as a criminal charge worse than murder was born.
Makamba was to languish on remand in custody for about eight months and he was later joined by former Minister of Finance, Dr Chris Kuruneri. Many more were specified and no one has taken stock of the impact of specification on economic performance. With more businesspersons being targeted, the economy continued to nose-dive confirming that all the actions of the state were either misdirected or a genuine attempt to distract attention from the core issues at play.
Although the so-called anti-corruption crusade took a political character with the majority of victims being black, the matter never attracted the attention of political actors in the context of the Sadc-facilitated talks that eventually led to the formation of the inclusive government.
Before the formation of the inclusive government, principal state and political actors were drawn from the same party that shared an ideology that the state can do no wrong. The responsibility for specification was placed on the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa.
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After a government reshuffle before the elections of last year, a new ministry was created under the name, Ministry of State Enterprises, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Monopolies. An Anti-Corruption Commission was then established in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The Ministry of Anti-Corruption was abolished with the advent of the inclusive government. With the specification of Moxon and subsequently companies deemed to be connected to him, the attorney representing the specified persons, Sternford Moyo, has raised an interesting legal point that has implications to many who remain specified notwithstanding the confusion regarding who is in charge of the administration of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Moxon is seeking an order in the court application under HC2857/09 before the High Court of Zimbabwe that the appointment by the co-Ministers of Home Affairs of forensic auditors Budhama Chikamhi and Cleopas Mukungunugwa as investigators be declared as a legal nullity.
The facts of the Meikles matter are that a battle for control of KMAL between Messrs Moxon and Chanakira has spilled into the domain of state actors amid allegations that the state has been rented as leverage by Chanakira to gain an advantage against Moxon.
Chanakira was the complainant against Moxon raising allegations of externalisation in respect of certain transactions that relate to assets situated in a foreign state, South Africa. Based on these allegations, minister Samuel Undenge, purporting to act as the Minister of State Enterprises, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Monopolies specified Moxon and appointed an audit firm as investigator.
At present, there appears to be no minister administering the revention of Corruption Act notwithstanding he fact that recently a number of businesspersons were de-specified by the co-Ministers of Home Affairs.
If as observed by Moxon there is no minister assigned to administer the Act as required, then the de-specification as well as all the specifications that are purportedly in force is null nd void. An investigator as an agent needs a principal to report to. If the principal is no longer in place, can an agent be appointed to report to a minister without legal standing?
The line of argument that Moxon has taken is not only interesting but raises fundamental questions about integrity of the state. It is evident that the manner in which the pre-inclusive government political culture operated has been adopted by the inclusive government seamlessly. We have seen the MDC condemning the action, notwithstanding the fact that one of the co-ministers is a nominee of the party.
The mere fact that the specification order was signed after the formation of the inclusive government confirms that there are people in the state who continue to believe, notwithstanding the dollarisation of the economy, that externalisation is a criminal charge that merits the intervention of the state.
Chikambi, supported by Melusi Matshiya the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, have opposed Moxon’s application citing a number of irregular transactions allegedly made by Moxon including a disposal of 25% equity of TM Supermarkets to Pick ‘n’ Pay retailers and the externalisation of US$8,4 million from the transaction.
It is also alleged that Moxon and not Meikles Africa Limited externalised US$7,4 million being the proceeds from the disposal of shares in the jurisdiction of South Africa to a South African and not Zimbabwean company, Mvelaphanda Group.
Chikamhi in the court papers accuses Moxon in his personal capacity of being the mastermind behind the alleged undervaluation of the Cape Grace Hotel that was sold for cash. He does so purportedly on behalf of the shareholder, KMAL, arguing that the disposal to Mentor Holdings Limited represented Steven Lavenburg was not above board.
Any rational observer would agree that the state of Zimbabwe has no right to interfere with the administration of companies and more significantly that any attempt to make Moxon accountable to Zimbabwean authorities on transactions relating to assets situated in foreign territories violates international law, as doing so would effectively given the Prevention of Corruption Act extra-territorial application.
If Moxon committed an offence then it is for the forum courts in South Africa to adjudicate.What is critical is that all investors follow this landmark case as it further exposes the fact that no investor is safe when the wheels of justice and transparency are off. Yesterday, it was Muponda for example, and today it is Moxon. —swradioafrica.com.
Mutumwa Mawere
