First Lady slams police’s handling of gold smuggling scandal
- “I am a strong advocate for transparency and honesty and any continued silence by the police can be misconstrued as a cover up.”
Police on Sunday cleared the First Family of any wrongdoing, hours after First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa challenged law enforcement agents to come clean on the authenticity of claims by one, Gift Karanda, that the gold found on Henrietta Rushwaya belonged to Auxillia and son Collins.
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president, Rushwaya, was last week found with a 6kg gold haul on her at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Upon Rushwaya’s arrest, her associate told police officers that the gold belonged to Auxillia and her son.
He further stated that Collins Mnangagwa, son to the First Lady was the person who was supposed to have taken the gold for export to Dubai United Arab Emirates.
The accusations riled the First Lady who Sunday came out guns blazing challenging the police to arrest her or clear her name, adding that continued silence by police was being misconstrued as a cover up.
“As First Lady, my duty is first and foremost to Zimbabwe as a nation.I serve each and every Zimbabwean whole heartedly and selflessly,” she said
“I serve the interests of my nation and not any individual. I do not engage in illegal, narrow minded pursuits like gold smuggling.I have no dealings nor involvement with Ms Henrietta Rushwaya of any illegal kind,” she continued.
“I am challenging the police through their relevant office to issue a statement,” she said.
The First Lady chastised the ZRP, saying their continued institutional silence could be mistaken for connivance.
“I am a strong advocate for transparency and honesty, and any continued silence by the police can be misconstrued as a cover up.
“If there is any incriminating evidence against me, I challenge the police to present it to the nation without fear or favour. If there be none, I also challenge the police to say so,” she said.
The First Lady said she will not be dissuaded from working for those who need her help in both rural and urban areas.
“I will also support totally all anti-corruption activities regardless of the many malicious attacks clearly designed to cow me from supporting them. I stand firm on my principles,” she said.
She added that her son was an obedient son who was being wrongfully dragged in the mud.
“It pains me that my son who is hard working and an obedient son, is being attacked for no reason other than being a member of the first family. He is a hard working person and strives to improve himself day by day. As a mother I am proud of his work ethic and encourage him not be affected by malicious rumours,” she said.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Sunday responded by issuing a statement adding exonerating the First Family.
The police spokesperson said law enforcement agents had since arrested Karanda on charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Karanda and Rushwaya were also facing allegations of contravening the Gold Trade Act which prohibits the possession and trade of gold without a valid license.
In view of the above alleged abuses by Karanda and others in the recent gold heist at the international airport, Information secretary Nick Mangwana emphasised that government would continue to maintain zero tolerance towards organised corruption.
“His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has demonstrated zero tolerance stance on corruption and organised crime,” he said.
