MDC asks Mnangagwa, Mthuli Ncube and Mangudya to resign – questions Ncube’s integrity

The Movement for Democratic Change has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa his Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Central Bank governor John Mangudya to resign because they have failed the nation.

In a statement, the main opposition party said the present crisis, in which people are queuing for fuel and there is panic buying of goods in the shops, clearly showed that the present crisis had gone beyond the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front’s capacity to ameliorate the economic catastrophe.

“Its manifesto was void on ideas, and was characterised by economic folktales, unrealistic dreams, archaic dirigiste methods and populist rhetoric sandwiched in slogans not backed by proper plans,” the MDC said.

“To make matters worse the man tasked with economic recovery is Mthuli Ncube a guy who had nothing to do with the writing of the dump manifesto.

“Not only that, but that he is a person of questionable integrity who does little to bring credibility in the national leadership and clean the high country risk profile of Zimbabwe.

“He was the managing director of a fund which is involved in a global scandal which has resulted in the arrest of two of his associates including the son of former Angolan President Dos Santos.”

Jose Filomeno, son of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos was arrested last month together with his business partner Jean Claude Bastos de Morais for allegedly illegally transferring $500 million from state coffers to an HSBC Holdings Plc account in the UK.

Jean Claude Bastos de Morais was the founder of Quantum Global the company which Mthuli Ncube worked for in Switzerland.

“There was a serious security lapse in the intelligence community of Zimbabwe when Ncube was appointed Treasury Chief,” the MDC said.

“Even before the arrests, his background checks could have revealed his links to the scandal. It does not matter that the courts are yet to deal with the issue but a person with such credentials cannot be suitable to be head of a Finance Ministry of a fragile economy.

“Now state failure looms and Ncube proves helpless. Ncube’s attempt to increase tax is acceptance of a failure in seeking external funding. His presence does not do any good especially with confidence deficiencies around the government.

“When all has been said and done the buck stops with Mnangagwa who is not only the appointing authority but also failing to provide leadership out of the crisis.

“An individual in authority whether de facto or de jure has an obligation to deliver. We therefore hold him accountable for outsourcing an out of touch Finance Minister who is clueless, spineless and lacks care for the working people of Zimbabwe……

“We therefore demand that Mnangagwa accept that he has failed, equally Mangudya, Ncube and the whole bunch must resign. The balance sheet of a stolen election is there for everyone to see.”

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