The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, Gideon Gono has retaliated to recent calls by his enemies, mainly in the ruling ZANU PF party to have him probed for shady deals, and booted out of office.

Gideon Gono Feeling The Spotlight

“In a case where some people sought to divert attention from the main issue of illegal foreign currency dealings, it became clear that the Reserve Bank as the complainant was now being attacked and persecuted, by some highly placed people in positions of authority and influence, calling for the arrest of the Governor and his officials,” said the RBZ.

This month, a Harare provincial magistrate cleared the RBZ from accusations of secretly releasing $2, 1 trillion to Flatwater Investments. Many senior political and economic figures indicated Gono should be investigated.

The war between Gono and senior ‘corrupt’ ZANU PF members evolved over the Governor’s statements concerning the party members' abuse of office, corruption and money laundering.

Since then, a tense atmosphere has developed and currently Gono is not in good books with most of the ZANU PF members. Party members have also been reported to be calling for Gono’s dismissal from office but due to the strong bond between Gono and the country’s President Robert Mugabe, this cannot happen.

In a supplement titled, ‘When Facts Are Clear, Justice Will Always Prevail’ released on Friday 25 February 2008, the Central Bank seems to be defending itself and its boss in a headline titled, ‘RBZ Cleared of Wrong Doing In The Flatwater Case.’

“Indeed, commentators and scribes of all manner and form joined in the attacks based on falsehoods while the Governor and his staff maintained silent confidence and faith in the due process of our courts, knowing fully well that ‘rinemanyanga hariputirwe’- the truth shall come out in the open,” said the RBZ in a statement.

The supplement also carries articles of the Flatwater Case, as reported by various publications, before the matter was finally settled in court and the RBZ emerged ‘not guilty’.

At last year's Zanu PF Congress meeting, some party officials including governor for Mashonaland East province, Ray Kaukonde confronted Gono over his remarks that some party members were cash barons and exercising illegal business deals.

This led to the Governor indicating he would reveal the culprits if invited in Parliament, a move reportedly blocked at the last minute by Mugabe.

Last month, Gono 'secretly' announced a monetary policy statement review to the media, without the knowledge of members of the ruling party, ministers and business in general contrary to previous RBZ events which would go public. The Governor also launched new bearer cheques notes without the awareness of ZANU PF officials.

“The opposite of the truth has been made against the RBZ by those who are in fact supposed to represent it and project facts as they stand.”

“The result of such shocking utterances and misrepresentations has been to shake the confidence of the banking public, the industry and some key stakeholders who know us better,” said Gono.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance chairman, David Butau fled the country this January after the police announced they wanted to question him on allegations of foreign currency exchange violations. The fugitive is also director in Dande Holdings (Pvt) Limited, a company linked to Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

Butau alleges Gono had frustrated their investigation by refusing to appear before the committee for a long time, saying he was busy. He cites he was personally tasked by "senior Zanu PF members" to investigate Gono amid suspicion he was "killing and milking" the country while they watched.

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