By Mduduzi Mathuthu
I have become aware of utterances made by convicted fraudster Goodson Nguni, alleging that I corruptly received money from ZIMDEF. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Following the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in May, I was asked by ZIMDEF – in my professional capacity then as editor of The Chronicle – to coordinate a newspaper supplement in recognition of their achievements as well as those of the parent ministry.
Subsequently, in a transparent business transaction, I put together editorial material – with the help of colleagues who were paid for their input – to design a supplement that was published by The Herald, The Chronicle, The Daily News on Sunday, the Financial Gazette and The Standard.
In the case of Zimpapers, the supplement earned the company in excess of US$20,000. I billed ZIMDEF for the work done because beyond my own input, other colleagues contributed pictures and editorial material for which they had to be paid.
I don’t reap where I did not sow and I’m troubled that a whole constitutional body like ZACC now cannot distinguish between a commercial transaction and corruption, clearly blinded by a political and malicious pursuit of myself as a private citizen.
If I have committed a crime, ZACC knows what to do and, as every Zimbabwean knows, what to do is not to have a rampaging, lone rogue commissioner calling press conferences to besmirch people who have done no wrong.
Mduduzi Mathuthu is a former editor of the Chronicle newspaper who is now editor of the state owned Southern Times in Namibia.
