Zimbabweans Call for UK Government to Freeze Uebert Angel’s Assets
Zimbabwean citizen Cathy Fikile Tshezi has launched a petition urging the UK government to freeze the assets of Uebert Angel, a Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large who leads the Good News Church. Tshezi’s petition follows the debut episode of Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia documentary, which exposed Angel’s illegal activity. During the documentary, Angel offered undercover Al Jazeera journalists posing as Chinese criminals the opportunity to launder millions of dollars through a gold smuggling scheme using his diplomatic status. At the time of writing, the petition had garnered over 9,000 signatures.
Angel’s Response to Al Jazeera Documentary
Over the weekend, Angel’s chief investment officer, Sobona Mtisi, issued a statement in response to the Al Jazeera documentary. According to the statement, Angel and his team suspected that the investors were criminals and were merely going along with them. However, the documentary has sparked further investigations into Angel’s assets and activities.
RBZ Investigates Angel’s Assets
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s intelligence unit is currently investigating Uebert Angel’s assets, and the Insurance and Pensions Commission has issued a statement requesting information about Angel’s assets to conduct a thorough investigation under the Money Laundering and Protocols Act (MLPCA). Zimbabwe’s insurance authority has emphasized the importance of collaborating with the central bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit to assess the potential risks of money laundering and terrorist financing to which Zimbabwe may be exposed.
“… 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,” RBZ said in a statement.
Implications of the Investigation
If the investigation uncovers evidence of illegal activity, Uebert Angel’s assets may be seized or frozen. The case highlights the importance of international collaboration in fighting money laundering and other financial crimes. It also raises questions about the role of religious leaders in such activities and the need for greater accountability and oversight.