BULAWAYO - Zimbabwe’s insurance authority says the intelligence unit of the central bank is seeking information about assets of Uebert Angel, who is featuring prominently in a hard-hitting Al Jazeera documentary exposing gold smuggling scams, involving some state officials.
In a statement, the Insurance and Pensions Commission said they need information about assets belonging to Eubert Mudzanire (alias Eubert Angel) and one Ewan MacMillan for conducting thorough investigations in terms of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (MLPCA).
The Commission said it is required by the law to “coordinate with Financial Intelligence Unit in the assessment of the money laundering and terrorist financing risks to which the country is exposed.”
Angel is the ambassador at Large for Europe and Americas and also President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special envoy.
The statement signed by commissioner Grace Muradzikwa, reads in part, “… We are in receipt of an urgent communication from the FIU requesting all industry players to assist with information on insurance products, insured assets held or disposed by these individuals directly or indirectly through companies or trusts during the period I January 2020 and 21 March 2023 … The information being requested is confidential in terms of section 31 of the MLPC Act and therefore should be regarded as such.”
Angel was not responding on calls on his mobile phone while MacMillan was unreachable. Al Jazeera is expected to start screening a series of documentaries tomorrow highlighting gold scams in Zimbabwe involving some state officials.