(Last Updated on November 2, 2020 by Editor)
HARARE – First Lady, Auxilia Mnangagwa has issued a statement refuting claims that she and one of her sons, Collins, were involved in Henrietta Rushwaya’s gold smuggling case.
This follows one Gift Karanda’s interventions at the airport claiming the gold belonged to the First Lady when Rushwaya was intercepted by authorities.
It is further reported that Karanda claimed that Collins was the one who initially had to take the gold to Dubai.
“As first Lady, my is duty first and foremost to Zimbabwe as a nation. I serve each and every Zimbabwean whole heartedly and selflessly. I seve the interest of my nation and not any individual. I do not engage in illegal narrow minded pursuits like gold smuggling,” read the statement.
The statement further went on to deny any dealings with Rushwaya and challenged the police to bring any evidence.
She also added that, “I have no dealings nor involvement with Ms Henrietta Rushwaya of any illegal kind. I am challenging the police through their relevant office to issue a statement with regards to utterances by one officer during her arrest that falsely implicated me and my son Collins.”
The ZRP has subsequently also issued a statement confirming multiple charges levelled against Karanda, one of them being for defeating or obstructing the course of justice as set out in section 184(1)(e) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act [Chapter 9:23].
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Gift Karanda was arrested and is facing charges of contravening section 184(1)(e) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act [9:23] that is Defeating or Obstructing the Course of Justice. He is also facing charges of contravening section (3)(1)(a) of the Gold Trade Act [Chapter 21:3], dealing in and possession of gold without being a holder of licence or permit and also contravening section (182)(1) of the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23:02], smuggling” said the statement from ZRP.
This is not the first time, the first family has been dragged into corruption scandals.
Recently, Collins had to issue out a statement denying his links with one Delish Nguwaya who was implicated in a Covid-19 supplies procurement scandal together with former minister of Health, Obadiah Moyo.
The gold smuggling case is sucking in a lot of people including some members of the security services with four already arrested for being part of the syndicate.