The former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe has given an account of how he lost almost $1 million to persons referred to as ‘thieves’ in his home.
News broke this month of how the former leader lost thousands of dollars at his rural home in Zvimba. Initially it was reported that he lost $150 000.
But court documents on the case revealed that the former leader claims he lost close to $1 million in cash.
One of his relatives and three employees are now suspected to have stolen the money.
Local news portal The Herald named the suspects in the case as Constance Mugabe (50), Saymore Nheketwa (47), Andrew Mahumbe (37) and Johannes Mapurisa (50).
They were all arrested early this month over the case. Herald reports that Mr. Mugabe claims he “lost $922 000 to the suspects whose case was remanded to February 7 this year by Chinhoyi Magistrate Mr Tawengwa Chibanda.”
How the money was lost
According to prosecutors, in 2016, Mr Mugabe sent four briefcases full with books to his library at his rural home in Zvimba.
One of the briefcases however contained $1 million cash which the former President gave to his house keeper Constance for safekeeping.
Court papers showed that Mr. Mugabe did not tell Constance what was in the briefcase. On March 1, 2018, when Mr. Mugabe demanded the briefcase from Constance, she could not find it.
On January 6 this year Mr. Mugabe asked one of his workers to look for the briefcase after receiving news of how the suspects were living luxuriously.
The police were informed of the case and a search for the briefcase was launched. When the briefcase was recovered police say it had only $78 000 instead of $1 million.
Some of the suspects had bought cars and houses with the stolen money.
Mr. Mugabe left power in 2017 after resigning following a military takeover. He was succeeded by current President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Source: Africafeeds.com
