Zimbabweans deserve better, respect

THE conduct of the government and the police following the implicating of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and her son, Collins, in the gold smuggling case involving Zimbabwe Miners Federation boss Henrietta Rushwaya cannot go unchallenged.

Auxillia and her son were fingered by Rushwaya’s accomplice, Gift Karanda (44) as owners of the more than 6kg of gold which was intercepted at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport last Monday while being smuggled to Dubai.

On Sunday, nearly one week later, she challenged the police to prove that she and her son were involved. Before that, the President‘s Office and permanent secretary in the Information ministry, Ndavaningi Mangwana issued statements alleging name dropping.

The police later sent out a statement claiming it had conducted thorough investigations that absolved the First Lady and her son.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa also claimed that implicating members of the First Family was part of a plot to topple Mnangagwa. She did not, however, clarify who was behind the alleged regime change plot.

The various statements from State institutions supporting the First Lady were curious and surely meant to intimidate the police, the alleged victims of the arrests and would be witnesses in the case if there are any.

Not that we are accusing the First Lady of any wrongdoing, but as they say one panics if they have something to hide.

Shouldn’t a person implicated in a criminal case clear themselves before the courts?

After all, the case is already before the courts and the onus was on the First Lady and her son, Collins to absolve themselves through that platform, and not to dare the police.

In the first place, both should have been arraigned before the courts and be accorded an opportunity to prove their innocence.

Suffice to say not long ago, Collins was implicated in the US$60 million COVID-19 tender scam involving Drax International, fronted by Delish Nguwaya, who is a friend to the First Family.

Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa was quick to defend Mnangagwa, threatening people who linked him to corrupt elements.

This saw the arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who had amplified the Drax scandal linked to Mnangagwa family.

The conduct of the government shows that the Zanu PF party is wielding too much power on government institutions. Someone implicated should be arrested and cleared by the courts, simple!

The police did not name drop Auxillia, her alleged accomplices did and the onus is on them to prove their innocence before the court of law. Yet the police were clearly arm-twisted; and had no option except to exonerate her.

How many cases have the police investigated and did not issue statements to exonerate those involved? Why this one?