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Grace Mugabe's name used for extortion
30 May 2015 at 14:36hrs | Views
Zanu-PF top officials in Harare have been accused of using First Lady Grace Mugabe's name to extort money from at least 10 housing co-operatives from the high-density suburb of Glen Norah.
According to a letter written by the co-operatives to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's wife, Auxilia, who is Zanu-PF's deputy secretary for environment and tourism, the officials have been collecting money claiming they were doing it on behalf of Grace.
The co-operatives named Zanu-PF Harare youth leader Godwin Gomwe, Hariwandi Munyawiri and Mucheneripi Mupindu, among others, as the brains behind the scam.
"They said every co-operative shall pay $120, which shall be taken to the Zanu-PF province and taken to State House to Dr Amai Grace Mugabe . . after this, the same provincial members said they now want $10 000 for the youth and $25 000 for the Women's League to start their project somewhere else."
Gomwe yesterday denied the allegations, but said he knew about the letter to Mnangagwa's wife. He said his political enemies were trying to tarnish his image.
The co-operatives alleged that even after paying the money, they were still not allowed to build on their stands.
"They demanded the money with threats . . . $10 000 was paid at Dolphin House at Cde Gomwe's office, $25 000 was paid at Mr Chivasa's house on the instructions of Cde Baya and Cde Mupindu," the letter added.
This is not the first time Zanu-PF youths have been accused of using the First Lady's name to get money from business people.
According to a letter written by the co-operatives to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's wife, Auxilia, who is Zanu-PF's deputy secretary for environment and tourism, the officials have been collecting money claiming they were doing it on behalf of Grace.
The co-operatives named Zanu-PF Harare youth leader Godwin Gomwe, Hariwandi Munyawiri and Mucheneripi Mupindu, among others, as the brains behind the scam.
"They said every co-operative shall pay $120, which shall be taken to the Zanu-PF province and taken to State House to Dr Amai Grace Mugabe . . after this, the same provincial members said they now want $10 000 for the youth and $25 000 for the Women's League to start their project somewhere else."
The co-operatives alleged that even after paying the money, they were still not allowed to build on their stands.
"They demanded the money with threats . . . $10 000 was paid at Dolphin House at Cde Gomwe's office, $25 000 was paid at Mr Chivasa's house on the instructions of Cde Baya and Cde Mupindu," the letter added.
This is not the first time Zanu-PF youths have been accused of using the First Lady's name to get money from business people.
Source - newsday
