WASHINGTON - The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says it is closely monitoring a documentary series in which some state officials, gold smugglers, suspected criminals, fixers and others are smuggling the precious mineral worth billions of dollars per year to Dubai and other countries.
ZACC spokesperson, Commissioner Thabane Mlobane, said, “What I can say is that we are also following the documentary series. An official position is that we are following the documentary series.”
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said police have not yet viewed the documentary, which revealed shady gold deals being allegedly conducted by some Zimbabweans, including ambassador at large Uebert Angel and Henrieta Rushwaya.
The two, who were unreachable for comment, are said to be linked to some government officials and President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Nyathi said, “We have not yet seen the documentary. We will inform you about our position when we see the documentary.”
VOA Zimbabwe Service was unable to reach presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa and information secretary Nick Mangwana, who were unreachable on their mobile phones.
Al Jazeera yesterday aired its first edition of a five-part gold smuggling documentary series.
Zimbabweans expressed outrage over the Al-Jazeera documentary chronicling how a criminal syndicate linked to Mnangagwa, is allegedly laundering money and smuggling gold out of the country to Dubai.
Citizens Coalition for Change interim leader, Nelson Chamisa, said, “THE FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD. The #aljazeeradocumentary exposes the extent of the rot at the top, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.This clearly shows how corrupt, rotten & broken leadership has destroyed a jewel and great country. Zimbabwe is not poor, it’s just poorly governed!”
Angel, boasted to the broadcaster’s undercover journalists and offered to use his diplomatic status to launder millions of U.S. dollars through a gold-smuggling scheme.
He is quoted in the documentary as saying, “You want gold, gold we can do it right now, we can make the call right now, and it’s done… It will land in Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe can’t touch it too until I get to my house. So, there can be a diplomatic plan.”
Several other gold dealers appear in the sting operation.
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced Wednesday that it is investigating Angel and his business associate, Ewan MacMillan.
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 to calls on his mobile phone while MacMillan was unreachable.