ZANU PF Sold Its Soul For 29 Kilograms Of Diamonds

I have been trawling the various internet news sites with regards to the court orders which instructed mines minister Obert Mpofu to return the 29 kilograms of diamonds removed in contravention of a court order of the diamonds being held by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. And I can find nothing that would indicate that the diamonds have been returned.

Does ZANU PF place themselves above the law? Do court orders not apply to ZANU PF? (Obviously, I do not expect an answer to these questions – not that any will be forthcoming…)

We cannot allow Mpofu and ZANU PF to ignore and defy the second court order, and, even if and when the diamonds are returned, Mpofu should be considered for criminal prosecution.

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The mines minister personally oversaw the illegal removal of the 29 kilograms of diamonds from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in direct contravention of a Supreme Court order, has astonished buyers at a local company in Zimbabwe by buying a serious amount of garden equipment.

"Mines Minister Obert Mpofu brought business to a standstill at Halsted Brothers in Bulawayo last Friday when he splashed out US$40000 in cash to buy 'gardening equipment and other hardware'. Our correspondent Lionel Saungweme reports that everyone inside the shop was shocked to see the Minister bring out such huge sums of money. Shop attendants had to focus on serving Mpofu’s huge order while other customers could only look on and wait. Newsreel was not able to establish where he was taking the equipment to.

Only last week the Supreme Court issued a second order for Mpofu to return 29 kilograms of diamonds he, along with a senior police officer, took from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The court had initially ordered the gems valued at US$18 million to be kept at the central bank for safekeeping pending the resolution of a court case involving African Consolidated Resources (ACR) and the government. The army forced ACR to leave its Marange diamond claim at gunpoint in 2006 but the courts have since ruled the ejection illegal.

Mpofu assisted by a senior police officer went to the central bank and produced a document which he claimed was from the Supreme Court Registrar setting aside the order to keep the diamonds there. ACR’s lawyer Jonathan Samkange charged that the police had basically 'robbed the central bank'. It’s thought the ZANU PF factions led by retired general Solomon Mujuru and Defence Minister Emerson Mnangagwa are fighting each other for control of the diamonds. Mpofu belongs to the Mujuru faction which is seen as enjoying the support of the army."

So, instead of rushing to obey the second order issued by the highest court in the land and organise to have the diamonds returned, Mpofu prefers to shock other customers by spending inordinate amounts of money to buy luxuries...

It is obvious that he works with a certain protection - otherwise he would have been arrested before today for his actions.

ZANU PF have no intention of returning the US$18 million worth of precious stone - which has probably already been sold on.

"Last week it was reported that state security agents from the Central Intelligence Organisation (seen as loyal to the Mnangagwa faction) broke into Mpofu’s office at ZIMRE Centre in Harare trying to establish his role in shady deals involving diamonds.

The CIO operatives who broke into the 7th floor office allegedly found important documents implicating the Minister, and also took his computer hard drive. Mpofu confirmed as much saying, 'there were four break-ins by unknown persons into my office when I was on holiday'."

Does Mpofu expect the ZRP to investigate a case which was allegedly committed by Charlie Ten (CIO) - and while the 29 kilogram of diamonds are still outstanding?

I suppose 29 kilograms of diamonds is a change from the normal 30 pieces of silver it takes to buy one's soul.

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man