News / National
Mugabe lied on stolen $15b diamonds, George Charamba says
14 Jan 2017 at 12:06hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba has made sensational disclosure that Mugabe 'lied' to the nation that $15 billion worth of diamonds were stolen.
Early last year, Mugabe made startling revelations that diamonds worth as much as $15 billion could have been stolen by miners in the Marange area.
He said less than $2 billion was remitted from diamond proceeds and those seconded by Government to work with private miners had failed to account for the gems.
That 'admission' which according to Charamba was cooked up made international headlines.
However, months later Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa hinted that the country did not lose $15 billion in diamond revenue as claimed by Mugabe.
Chinamasa told the BBC that it was not money missing or stolen but an economic loss due to undervaluing and mispricing.
However, Herald columnist writing under the pen-name Nathanial Manheru but believed to be Charamba, referring to Mugabe as The Great One said he (Mugabe) " wanted to dramatise the need for us to take total control of our Diamond resource".
Charamba made the revelation in his The Other Side Nathaniel Manheru column today.
Below is his unedited take :
A conversation with The Great One
I have a great disclosure to make, even then at the risk of contravening a sacred Act I signed and am sworn to. What is more, a disclosure that risks blowing my cover as a columnist — by now yet another illusion! Here I go: It's a fine Monday morning, and we are having a prayer with the Great One.
Then a great conversation started: "Sir, this claim that we lost $15bn-worth of diamonds?" Great, cacophonous laughter from The Great One. "What $15bn, young man? What was the value of rough diamonds traded worldwide last year?"
Another roaring laughter! "About $14 comma something billion, Sir!" "So-ooo!?#*£¥€? Yet another round of reckless laughter.
Then the bombshell: "Figure yandakangotaura zvangu kuti zvityise, kikikiki!"
"Ahh shefu, zvino mativambira neOpposition!".
More laughter! "Hameno zvako, that's for you to deal with. I wanted to dramatise the need for us to take total control of our Diamond resource; to ensure full accountability of its exploitation, and I achieved the national focus I wanted.
The change that's necessary. Where else in the world is a strategic mineral reposed in foreigners? Where? Zvimwewo izvo zvava zvako!"
Another round of laughter, even more raucous. Palaver finish!
Early last year, Mugabe made startling revelations that diamonds worth as much as $15 billion could have been stolen by miners in the Marange area.
He said less than $2 billion was remitted from diamond proceeds and those seconded by Government to work with private miners had failed to account for the gems.
That 'admission' which according to Charamba was cooked up made international headlines.
However, months later Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa hinted that the country did not lose $15 billion in diamond revenue as claimed by Mugabe.
Chinamasa told the BBC that it was not money missing or stolen but an economic loss due to undervaluing and mispricing.
However, Herald columnist writing under the pen-name Nathanial Manheru but believed to be Charamba, referring to Mugabe as The Great One said he (Mugabe) " wanted to dramatise the need for us to take total control of our Diamond resource".
Charamba made the revelation in his The Other Side Nathaniel Manheru column today.
Below is his unedited take :
A conversation with The Great One
I have a great disclosure to make, even then at the risk of contravening a sacred Act I signed and am sworn to. What is more, a disclosure that risks blowing my cover as a columnist — by now yet another illusion! Here I go: It's a fine Monday morning, and we are having a prayer with the Great One.
Then a great conversation started: "Sir, this claim that we lost $15bn-worth of diamonds?" Great, cacophonous laughter from The Great One. "What $15bn, young man? What was the value of rough diamonds traded worldwide last year?"
Another roaring laughter! "About $14 comma something billion, Sir!" "So-ooo!?#*£¥€? Yet another round of reckless laughter.
Then the bombshell: "Figure yandakangotaura zvangu kuti zvityise, kikikiki!"
"Ahh shefu, zvino mativambira neOpposition!".
More laughter! "Hameno zvako, that's for you to deal with. I wanted to dramatise the need for us to take total control of our Diamond resource; to ensure full accountability of its exploitation, and I achieved the national focus I wanted.
The change that's necessary. Where else in the world is a strategic mineral reposed in foreigners? Where? Zvimwewo izvo zvava zvako!"
Another round of laughter, even more raucous. Palaver finish!
Source - Online
