8000litresoffuel‘vanish’atrally
AT least 8 000 litres of fuel is alleged to have been misappropriated during the Midlands leg of the Presidential Youth Interface rally that was held on 2 September in Gweru.
The ruling Zanu-PF party has since launched investigations to determine if the allegations are true. A Gokwe-Kana party member, who was part of the committee that oversaw the distribution of fuel has been fingered.
Zanu-PF Midlands provincial chairperson Cde Daniel Mckenzie said investigations have started to verify how the allocated fuel was used during the rally that was addressed by President Mugabe. An estimated 100 000 people attended the rally. “We allocated fuel to all eight districts and as I speak now, I am yet to receive a breakdown of how the fuel was used and I have since ordered an audit. I have since asked my deputy who was handling all the fuel issues to submit a breakdown of all the fuel allocations and schedules of how it was used.”
Cde Mckenzie said in case someone was found wanting , the law will have to take its course.
“As a province we received almost 70 000 litres of fuel. In the event that we discover that some of the fuel was looted, then we have no option but to allow the law to take its course, but right now I can neither confirm nor deny to allow investigations to take place,” said Cde Mckenzie.
A well placed source said the accused official only distributed 2 000 litres out of the 10 000 litres that was allocated for use by Gokwe supporters who intended to travel to Gweru for the star rally.
“He distributed 2 000 litres before he claimed that the remaining 8 000 was going to be set aside for any eventualities. When asked of the whereabouts of the fuel, he became evasive and started shouting and blaming members for looting the fuel,” said a party official.
He added; “We were left with no option as we had to report the matter to the chairperson. And I promise you that we are not going to rest until we get to the bottom of the issue. Even at our next provincial meeting, we are going to raise the issue.”
Contacted for comment, the member dismissed the allegations claiming it was the work of his enemies who are plotting his downfall.
“There is nothing like that, each constituency was given its own diesel and therefore I do not know where the 8 000l would have come from. It is a total lie, even if you ask our chairman who dealt with fuel, there is nothing like that,” he said.