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Chiyangwa captured on video evading a police roadblock

by Melissa Mpofu/Bongani Ndlovu
13 May 2015 at 06:43hrs | Views
A VIDEO clip of businessman Phillip Chiyangwa evading a police roadblock in Harare has gone viral on social media with some describing the act as uncouth, saying the flamboyant tycoon is not above the law, despite his fame and riches.

The business mogul, who is famous for bragging about his flashy lifestyle and top-of-the-range vehicles, was captured on a four-minute clip during the making of what appears to be a documentary telling a white passenger/presenter he was travelling with, that he had evaded the policewoman because he knew she was stopping him to have a glimpse of his expensive Rolls Royce Phantom.

Driving past a roadblock in an area which looked like a high density suburb, Chiyangwa is questioned by the presenter why he did not stop at the roadblock after being waved down, to which he curtly responds: "Stop for what? For them to view the car or what? They can follow if they want."

Asked if he evades all police who stop him, Chiyangwa, popularly known as Mkoma Fidza, ridicules the police saying: "If you stop, they'll start asking nonsense things that don't help in any way. They're many who can stop you, they'll just want to admire the Bentley or Rolls Royce. I don't have time to waste, time is money".

He justifies his pompous behaviour saying he had not committed any offence and had no reason to stop.

"I don't know who was in front of me, did you see any car that we hit . . . so why should they stop us," Chiyangwa questions the presenter laughing.

Thereafter Chiyangwa is seen ushering the presenter into his 18-bedroom mansion with 25 lounges in Harare's Borrowdale suburb. He shows off the dining room and his master bedroom which has a walk-in closet with hundreds of designer shoes. Asked why he needs an 18-bedroom house, Chiyangwa says he built it knowing he would turn it into a hotel.

To Chiyangwa, his dining room is a special place as he has hosted the President's family. "The most important guest I've invited to this dining room is the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe with his wife and children when they were young. We served him traditional food which is his favourite," he tells the presenter.

Asked which type of food he likes, Chiyangwa responds in streetwise terms "same same," meaning he enjoys the same food as the President.

From the dining room they head to the bedroom where he shows off his walk-in closet which has designer suits and shoes. Upon entering the closet, the presenter looks at his shoes and compares them with the ones he sees in the closet and confesses that his shoes could do with some cleaning.

"My shoes need brushing, I feel dirty," say the presenter before asking Chiyangwa why he has so many shoes and clothes.

"When you can afford it why not have it? When you have all this, people here feel you'll have stolen from the vote but I say work hard and you'll make it.

"You can't work and pile money somewhere. You've to work and increase your assets," Chiyangwa says before the video abruptly cuts off.

Thereafter comments from those who had watched the clip started pouring in on the Facebook page – iHarare Extreme where the video was shared. While some attacked Chiyangwa for disrespecting the police, some praised him for his actions saying police were only interested in bribes.

"Rules are for everyone, rich or poor. Don't support this guy, he's actually wrong. The police stopped him because they were suspecting something, they wanted to have a closer view of his documents. He's wrong," commented one Wilfred Mesa.

Irene Sibhuku concurred questioning: "Who is he? No one is above the law."

"You're a boss to your workers not on the road so Mr Fidza, obey the rules."

Others, however said they were eager to watch the whole documentary, describing the clip as interesting.

"Mr PC you're right there. These guys don't have a clue about what a traffic officer's job is, it's a waste of time for real," wrote Ronnie Kazembe.

Pst Eleos Serth wrote: "Nice advice PC, if you've plenty and you can afford it why not just increase your assets?"

Some seemed shocked that there were wealthy people like Chiyangwa in Zimbabwe.

"Are you serious . . . people actually live this way in Zimbabwe when 3/4 of the population is jobless or starving to death? So, we shouldn't stop at roadblocks too then huh?" questioned Amphodith Nkomo.


Source - chronicle
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