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The arrest of Henrietta Rushwaya has lifted the lid on an elite trafficking cartel involving members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Central Intelligence Organisation, powerful politicians and businesspersons.
But more importantly, it has given the world a glimpse into just how powerful First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa really is as she successfully forced the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to look the other way and issue a statement exonerating her and her son Collins.
Just days after the dramatic arrest of Rushwaya and several of her accomplices, who apparently revealed the First Lady and her son’s involvement – Mrs Mnangagwa was already challenging the police not to remain quiet “with regards the utterances by one officer during her arrest that falsely implicated” her son.
How does the First Lady know that what Gift Karanda said is false? Is the First Lady above the law? Is President Mnangagwa making the mistake that the late former president Robert Mugabe made on Grace? Why is the ZRP rushing to exonerate the First Lady when the case is before the courts? Why is the First Lady speaking on behalf of Collins, a 33-year-old man?
Take these few lines from the First Lady’s statement, for instance: “I am challenging the police through their relevant office to issue a statement… any continued silence by the police can be misconstrued as a cover up.
“It pains me that my son, who is hard working and an obedient son, is being attacked for no reason other than being a member of the first family. He is a hard working person and strives to improve himself day by day. As a mother I am proud of his work ethic and encourage him not be affected by malicious rumours.”
Are these not intimidation tactics by the First Lady/First Family? Is this not perverting the course of justice? Why not let police finish their investigations than demand to be exonerated?
While the 57-year-old Auxillia and her son Collins (33) have been implicated alongside Pakistani businessman Ali Mohamed, Gift Karanda, Stephen Chenjerai Tserayi, Raphios Mufandauya, Superintendent Shoko and detective Chief Inspector Chimhungu – police did not pick up or even question the Mnangagwas.
Is this not selective application of the law? Considering that Collins has been implicated before in another corruption scandal which ended up claiming the scalp of a Cabinet minister; should the police not consider it likely that he was indeed involved in the smuggling of gold?
The capitulation by the ZRP itself was as comical as it is tragic:
“Comprehensive investigations have proved that the statement by Gift Karanda was false and malicious with intent to defeat or obstruct the course of justice. As such he was accordingly charged and the case is pending before the courts,” read the statement released by police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
Not to be outdone was Nick Mangwana the Secretary for Information, who also issued a statement representing the Government of Zimbabwe. So in essence, Government and the First Lady have come out to pervert the course of justice, which has as was expected, forced the ZRP to issue a statement exonerating the First Lady and Collins.
Mrs Mnangagwa is also known to bully editors at the State media including ZBC and The Herald. As such, The Herald, which has been leading from the front in trying to clean up the First Lady’s image, has also come out in full force defending her and her family.
Whose Gold Is It?
When she was arrested, Rushwaya told investigators that the gold worth US$333 000 belonged to Mohamed, who had given her instructions to take it to Dubai where she was to deliver it to an unnamed individual.
On the other hand, Karanda allegedly told police officers that the gold Rushwaya was carrying belonged to the First Lady and her son Collins.
Who is lying and who is telling the truth? Is the First Lady a victim rather than an accomplice? Did Karanda implicate the Mnangagwas in a bid to stifle Rushwaya’s arrest at the airport? If so, why choose the First lady and that specific son?
How many companies have the technology to make gold bars? Shouldn’t it be traceable? Will the powers that be allow for this information to be made public? Whose gold is it anyway?
What’s The Cost To The Economy?
Illicit trade in minerals looted from Zimbabwe reportedly deprives the country of at least US$100 million a month, yet gold remains one of Zimbabwe’s top foreign currency earners, with the precious metal fetching over US$1,6 billion in 2018.
In a webinar recently hosted by Sapes Trust, Ibbo Mandaza said gold smuggling out of Zimbabwe had been going on for a long time: “We know, for example, that 60% of the gold produced in Zimbabwe goes out illicitly.”
Late former president Mugabe made a startling revelation in 2016 when he said US$15 billion worth of diamonds had been smuggled out of the country.
The level of corrupt activities in Zimbabwe, which has seen Cabinet ministers and other public officials being dragged through the courts – has led to a lack of trust in Government by the general populace.
The bulk of the population even believes that Rushwaya, who was arrested last Monday after being caught in possession of 6kg of gold at RGM International Airport, will get away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
However, the million-dollar question is whether the First Family was involved or not. Has Mrs Mnangagwa become another Grace Mugabe – a powerful, greedy bully or is she truly a victim of name dropping by those with close proximity to her family?
Nhau/Indaba
