National

Al Jazeera bombshell: RBZ denies links to ‘gold mafia’, money laundering cartel

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2023

HARARE – The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe says it is concerned and disturbed by “sensationally wild, false and malicious’ media reports”, carried in snippets of an unscreened Al Jazeera documentary, produced by the network’s Investigative Unit.

In a statement, the RBZ said snippets of the documentary that were already circulating online were “purveying the impression that the bank is southern Africa’s laundromat or southern Africa’s laundry service for an alleged African gold mafia involved in illicit gold dealings, corruption and money laundering.”

RBZ governor John Mangudya said the snippets cited a few boastful and name-dropping individuals, who neither work for nor represent the bank in any capacity, as sources of the allegations.

“The outrageous reports quote one of the cited individuals as boasting that he has diplomatic cover to ‘fly dirty cash into Zimbabwe where it can be laundered through gold and other investments,” Mangudya said.

“Another individual is reported to have asserted that ‘there is an opportunity, a hell of a big opportunity to wash money here [in Zimbabwe]’.”

Mandudya said, yet another “self-serving” claim is that one individual bragged that his phone “is on speed dial” with the Bank’s Governor.

“These are all false and malicious allegations. It is unbelievable that such bizarre claims, allegedly made by private individuals who have no relationship with the Bank whatsoever, have been elevated to gospel truths and published with reckless abandon,” he charged,

“ It is particularly strange that the reports claim that ‘through the bank, government is using illicit ways as a scheme to bust international sanctions placed on political leaders and government entities.

“The bank is not a sanctioned entity, and the cited individuals are not sanctioned persons either.

“There are no sanctions on Zimbabwean exports and imports, including trade in gold, to warrant Zimbabwe to ‘circumvent international sanctions’ through illicit trade in gold.

“As such, the claim that there is ‘a scheme to bust international sanctions using illicit ways’ shows beyond doubt that the peddlers of this narrative have a sinister agenda with nefarious objectives of tarnishing both the Bank and the Republic of Zimbabwe.”

Mangudya said it is also disturbing that the “scurrilous allegations have largely been widely and recklessly reported by a well-known and outspoken social media activist, elements of the local media and Zimbabwean-linked digital media platforms, who are closer to home to take responsibility by independently verifying the damaging and unproven allegations before publishing or peddling them.”

He said it is disappointing and deplorable that Zimbabweans are at the forefront of spreading malicious falsehoods about the Bank and the country.

“Curiously, the leaked snippets of the unscreened documentary omit the bank’s responses to 32 questions Al Jazeera Investigative Unit posed to the bank in connection with the allegations,” Mangudya added.

“In the spirit of transparency and social responsibility, the bank responded to all the 32 questions in detail on 27 February 2023 and the responses clearly show that the narrative, so far purveyed, is nothing but false.

“The bank is disappointed that either Al Jazeera Investigative Unit has not included the bank’s responses in the information they have leaked to or shared with their selected media houses and journalists, or the concerned journalists have elected to ignore the bank’s responses and only published the fake allegations in a malicious pursuit of a hidden agenda, unknown to the bank or Al Jazeera.

“ The bank reserves its rights to take appropriate legal action or initiate necessary sanctions against the interviewees and purveyors of the fake news to protect its fiduciary responsibilities in the national interests.”

He said the public should dismiss the “false allegations with the contempt they deserve.

The bank remains confident that the truth cannot be hidden, and that the truth shall prevail.”

Al Jazeera has not yet responded to the RBZ governor’s remarks. – VOA

National

Bulawayo businessman takes own life

Published

2 days ago

January 20, 2025

VicFallsLive

Picture: ZimLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Tragedy struck in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park on Saturday, when a 36-year-old businessman John Madzikatire took his own life by shooting himself.

According to a police statement, the incident occurred around 9:30 pm on an unnamed dust road, where a motorist stumbled upon Madzikatire’s lifeless body lying next to his Mercedes Benz vehicle.

The vehicle was still idling with its lights on and the driver’s door wide open.

Madzikatire was found in a pool of blood, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head, with no signs of life.

A pistol was discovered under his right knee, and it’s suspected that he shot himself in the head from the left side, with the bullet exiting from the right side.

A search of the vehicle revealed an army green bag containing a substantial amount of cash: $5,122 USD, 20,719 South African Rand, and $24 Zimbabwean dollars. The body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem examination.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating the incident and encourages the public to seek help when facing challenges. “We urge people to engage with others and seek counseling from community leaders and professional counselors rather than resorting to taking their own lives,” said Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, Press and Public Relations Officer for Bulawayo Province.

National

Vic Falls road crisis: Motorists slam “undrivable” highway

Published

2 days ago

January 20, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The once-thriving Victoria Falls-Bulawayo highway has become a nightmare for motorists, with many labeling it “undrivable” due to its deplorable state.

As we drove through the Hwange area, close to Dete, Lubimbi Turn and Lupane, we witnessed firsthand the treacherous conditions that have left drivers frustrated and fed up.

The road is riddled with potholes, gullies, and mud-filled craters, forcing many to abandon the main road and opt for a dusty, makeshift alternative.

In some areas close to Lupane, villagers have taken it upon themselves to fix the road using the ordinary soils. This is usually done by the children and women.

“I’ve been driving for over 20 years, but this road is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Thomas Moyo, a truck driver who frequently travels the route. “It’s like they’ve abandoned us. We’re forced to create our own paths, but even those are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.”

Another motorist, Sarah Ndlovu, expressed her disappointment and concern for safety. “It’s not just the damage to our vehicles; it’s the risk of accidents and injuries. I’ve seen cars stuck in the potholes , and it’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt.”

The poor state of the road is also affecting travel times, with some motorists reporting journeys that take up to 10 hours to cover a stretch of 400 kilometers.

“It’s unacceptable,” said James Dube, a tourist operator. “This road leads to one of the world’s most iconic tourist attractions, and yet it’s in shambles. We need urgent attention to fix this road and restore our country’s reputation.”

However, in a recent statement, the government announced plans to prioritize the rehabilitation of the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo highway this year.

According to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, a significant allocation of funds has been set aside for the project, which is expected to commence in the coming months.

While this news has brought some relief to motorists, many remain skeptical, citing previous unfulfilled promises. “We’ve heard it all before,” said Moyo. “We’ll believe it when we see it.”

As the situation continues to deteriorate, motorists are calling on authorities to take immediate action to repair and maintain the highway.

With the peak tourist season approaching, it remains to be seen whether the government will follow through on its promises and restore the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo highway to its former glory.

National

Cyclone Chido moves away from Zimbabwe

Published

1 month ago

December 16, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

According to the latest updates from the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC), Tropical Cyclone Chido has made landfall in Mozambique, approximately 35-40km south of Pemba, in Cabo Delgado Province.

The intense tropical cyclone brought heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds of up to 220km/h, causing widespread destruction in Mozambique. The system is expected to continue tracking west-southwest towards Malawi, steadily dissipating.

Zimbabwe, which was initially predicted to be in the cyclone’s path, has been spared the worst of the storm.

However, neighboring countries, including Malawi, are expected to experience heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next 72 hours.

The SHOC has issued a multi-hazard impact-based classification, warning of expected impacts, including strong gusts, heavy rainfall, and rough seas, in Mozambique, Malawi, and other parts of the region.

Member states have been urged to closely monitor official weather updates, intensify public awareness campaigns, and preposition relief supplies to enable a swift response to the cyclone’s impact.