Prominance Sinomusa Khumalo
At a business conference held during the just ended 64th annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the Vice President Constantino GN Chiwenga strongly cautioned all those who are bent on distabilising the newly introduced currency with unspecified action .
The Vice President was speaking after it had been widely circulated that illegal money changers had already placed a premium rate high above that of the banks over the new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.
The ZiG was introduced on the 5th of April replacing the inflation ravaged ZWL$.
VP Chiwenga said anyone found breaking Exchange Control regulations will be left to rot in prison especially the illegal foreign currency dealers ‘should be prepared for combat’.
“ZiG is here to stay forever,” Vice President Chiwenga declared.
“The bold step that we as a government have taken symbolises our commitment to stabilise this economy. Don’t be a player in undermining ZiG.
“We are going to implement strict measures. Our ZiG is not like any other currency because it is firmly controlled. It will not be subject to speculation. Speculators should therefore be ready for the fight, or we will lock them in.”
True to the Vice President’s words, but lack of will from the powes that be, less than 100 illegal money changers were arrested countrywide.
Zim GBC News carried a story were illegal foreign currency dealers were adamant that nothing was going to happen to them as ‘they were in it too.’
The story titled Osiphatheleni Already Have Better Rate of The ZiG was published on the 12th April, last month.
It is worrisome that with over 1000 illegal foreign currency dealers at strategic points in the City of Bulawayo, only twelve were arrested. Worriesome again that several publications have written on how these Osiphatheleni have continued with their illicit activities albeit implemented new tactics.
As the war against Osiphatheleni is slowly fought by the relavent authorities, Police in Harare last week arrested a guru in the illegal trade of foreign currency, Neville Mutsvangwa.
Neville Mutsvangwa is the son of former Minister and current spokesperson for the ring party, Zanu-PF, Chris Mutsvangwa and the current Minister of Women Affiars, Monica Mutsvangwa.
Neville was arrested five days ago after he appeared to advertise the ZiG black market selling exchange rate of 18,5 to the US dollar, on his WhatsApp status.
Our sources from Harare state that Neville’s arrest became dramatic when tenatious officers from Criminal Investigating Department (CID) of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) resorted to cutting the electric fence and scaling the gate of his Mount Pleasant home to gain entry.
This publication gathered that Neville had denied the Police Detectives entry into his home by locking the gate and refusing to open it.
After Neville’s arrest the State strongly opposed bail, pointing to his attempts to evade arrest and obstruct justice.
At the bail hearing, dramatic details emerged about Neville’s elusive tactics. The investigating officer, Blessing Mandizha, testified that the police had to employ forceful measures to gain entry into the premises. Having gained entry a meticulous search was conducted and Neville was found hiding amidst stacks of garbage bags, desperately trying to evade capture.
As the allegations against Neville emerge, it was revealed that he owned an unregistered company called Mumba Money Transfer, suspected of operating as an illegal money transfer agent and engaging in currency dealings. The police had received a tip-off about this operation, triggering the subsequent investigation.
As the investigation progressed, the police obtained a search and seizure warrant, but Neville put up a fierce resistance. He blocked their entry, demanding that the officers be in uniform before unlocking the gate. Even the Officer In Charge of a local police station joined the effort to gain access, but Neville remained defiant until the police forcibly entered his residency.
During the search of Neville’s residence, a trove of incriminating evidence was unveiled. Laptops, cell phones, Point Of Sale (POS) machines, and numerous SIM cards were discovered, along with Mumba Money business cards and debit cards. The police also visited Mumba Money offices, where they encountered clients seeking money exchange services. They arrested a co-accused, Ellis Majachani, and seized additional gadgets believed to have played a role in the alleged crimes.
Further investigations shed light on Neville’s money laundering activities. It was revealed that he periodically transferred the illicit funds to South African accounts via electronic transfers, attempting to conceal the origins of the money. Additionally, the authorities uncovered Neville’s possession of a Starlink router, which violated telecommunication regulations.
Neville now faces a myriad of charges, including illegal forex trading, money laundering, and violation of telecommunication regulations. The severity of his offenses was emphasized by the State, which highlighted the potential sentences of up to 25 years in prison or a hefty fine of not less than ZWL 500,000, or both.
The arrest sent shockwaves through Zimbabwean society due to the prominent positions held by Neville’s parents and their close ties to President Mnangagwa. Speculation swirled regarding the potential motivations behind the arrest, with Neville’s father, Chris, questioning the involvement of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and suggesting a scheme to manipulate the judiciary system and create a rift between himself and the State.
As the case continued to unfold, tensions rose within Zimbabwean political circles. Neville’s father, Christopher Mutsvangwa, publicly defended his son, vehemently denying his guilt and questioning the motivations behind the arrest. He cast suspicions on Vice President Chiwenga and insinuated a plot to drive a wedge between himself and President Mnangagwa.
The intertwining of personal and political dynamics in Neville Mutsvangwa’s arrest captivated the nation. It became a high-profile case that not only exposed alleged illegal activities but also fueled speculation about power struggles and manipulation within the government. The outcome of the trial would undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for both the Mutsvangwa family and the political landscape of Zimbabwe.
Neville Mutsvangwa’s arrest is serving as a stark reminder of Vice President Chiwenga that all illegal foreign currency dealers will be arrested, no matter who it is.
Its is thus Chris Mutsvangwa claimed that the arrest of his 44 year old son was the work of adversaries “trying to abuse the judiciary system, hoping that I can have an attitude against the state.”
In a veiled attack on VP Chiwenga in an interview with the Standard, Mutsvangwa claimed that he had “established beyond any doubt” that Mnangagwa had not instigated the arrest, “so it is somebody else who thinks he is wearing the shoes of the head of state to manipulate the relationship between me and the President.”
Mutsvangwa was at pains in trying to point out that his relationship with President Mnanganwa was cemented, even though he was sacked from Cabinet in February for insubordination.
“You know, the gate to power according to the Constitution in through an election, not through games and shenanigans and subterfuge. I don’t answer to ambitious individuals.”
The veiled attack refers to Chiwenga who, Mutsvangwa says, has ambitions to be the Zanu-PF leader in the next election when Mnanganwa’s term ends in 2028.
“It’s an impossibly long shot for the power ambitious to ever think they can drive a wedge into such a long, strong and revolutionary acquaintance between me and the president.
“Persecuting my son as carrot and stick to that nefarious enterprise will never yield the much-craved outcome.”
Neville Mutsvangwa’s bail application dragged into the Friday night before a Harare magistrate as the Prosecution and lawyers haggled on the on merits of the matter before them. He, and his two accused accomplices spent the weekend in custody pending bail proceedings today, Monday.
The trio Harare who are facing three criminal charges of illegal foreign currency dealings have since been denied bail after a full hearing.
The case will be a test for the country’s judiciary, which has so far denied bail to over 100 people arrested on charges of illegal dealing in currency as the government attempts to shore up its new currency, the ZiG.
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