Thread by @Wamagaisa

1. Efforts to vaccinate the nation are commendable. But we must also be vigilant re: the other pandemic - corruption. The government’s numbers don’t add up. Let’s start with Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube in January 2021 saying government had set aside US$100 million for vaccines

2. Two weeks later, the Minister of Health & VP Constantino Chiwenga said the cost of the national vaccination program was going to be US$6,7 million. Both Ncube & Chiwenga’s figures are based on the same numbers to be vaccinated: 10 million people.

3. The gulf is so wide that a reasonable person has a duty to raise serious questions. The man in charge of the national purse says US$100 million while the man in charge of health says US$6,7 million. The difference is a whooping US$93,3 million! We’re also getting donations

4. There are at least 2 possibilities: firstly, one of the 2 gentlemen lied to us. Maybe Minister Ncube had a bout of pseudologia fantastica - chronic behavior of habitual lying with that huge figure and VP Chiwenga got his numbers mixed up. This is the more innocent possibility.

5. The second & more sinister possibility is that the difference (US$93,3 million) will find its way into private pockets of PEPs, all in the name of the pandemic. Remember we’re also getting donations. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are recorded as having been bought.

6. There should be a cross-party Parliamentary Group on the pandemic, keeping an eye on public spending and ensuring accountability. But what small independent voice there was in Parliament was immobilised by the destructive force of Khupe & Mwonzora. No hope, they’re all on mute

7. The media should also be picking up these discrepancies and asking hard questions when they attend those press conferences. Put Ncube and Chiwenga to task. But those who get interviews think they have been done favours. No serious questions at all, it’s like a PR exercise.

8. NGOs should be vigilant as well. Citizens are too busy trying to survive so they might be forgiven for not noticing. They rely on the media and NGOs as watchdogs. Seasoned Zimbabwe watchers know these differences are how public funds are siphoned.