Frozen Assets of Four Individuals
The financial authorities in Zimbabwe have frozen the accounts and assets of four individuals who were exposed in the Al Jazeera documentary Gold Mafia for their involvement in corruption, money laundering, and smuggling. The four “small fish” work for various government departments that have been used as smuggling corridors.
According to state media reports, the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe issued a memo directing that the assets of Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube, and Fredrick Kunaka be frozen immediately. The memo also instructed the authorities to freeze the assets of legal persons and arrangements associated with them.
Profile of Implicated Individuals
Chidodo, who is the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Head of Security, was captured in Episode 2 of the documentary, describing how he assists gold smugglers to avoid detection as they transport their contraband to Dubai via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Chirozvi is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Aurex Jewellery Head of Finance, while Kunaka is the General Manager of Fidelity Printers and Refiners. According to the documentary, Kunaka was on the payroll of the gold mafia and received a kickback of US$30,000 per month. Dube, on the other hand, was allegedly being paid US$3,000 per month by the gold smuggling syndicate and is associated with Golden Beryl Private Limited.
Part of a Larger Syndicate
The four individuals are part of a larger group of officials who have been aiding criminal elements in smuggling gold and abusing their positions. The syndicate behind them allegedly siphons millions worth of gold each week, mostly to Dubai.
Behind the four small fish are shady characters that are allegedly siphoning millions worth of gold each week, mostly to Dubai. The damning Al Jazeera documentary has implicated an ambassador, Eubert Angel, who in turn appears to link the First Family in the illicit deals in a yet-to-be-screened episode.
Action Against Implicated Individuals
During a press conference on Tuesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa promised to take action against those implicated in the controversial documentary series, which is being aired in four parts. The dark web has also implicated an ambassador, Eubert Angel, who appears to link the First Family in the illicit deals in a yet-to-be-screened episode.
The memo issued by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe demonstrates that the government is taking concrete steps to combat corruption and money laundering. It sends a message to corrupt officials and criminal elements that their actions will not be tolerated, and that justice will be served.