Mnangagwa's son in mine wrangle

TWO businessmen implicated in a $10 million fraud case involving a gold mine in Chinhoyi have filed an application for discharge at the close of the State case and questioned involvement of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's son, Collins, in the matter.

The two men, Chinese national Zhou Haixi and Zimbabwean Tafirenyika Kambarami, pleaded not guilty to defrauding Chen Shaoliang and his daughter Chen Xiandong by allegedly taking over Eldorado Mine when they appeared before Chinhoyi regional magistrate Never Katiyo three weeks ago.

In his application, Haixi, through his lawyer Charles Chinyama, said he still maintained that one Charles Frederick Jones was a shareholder and director at Wenzhou Enterprises and that acting in his capacity, Jones agreed with Chen and his daughter to dispose of their entire shareholding in the firm to Haixi and Kambarami.

Chinyama, however, said part of Jones' evidence said the complainant's statement was signed by him and was also signed by Collins Mnangagwa.

It was not clear to Chinyama as to why Mnangagwa remained in the court during the entire proceedings.

Mnangagwa is alleged to have put his security firm, Seasac Security, at the mine despite a deed of settlement which states that security at the mine would be provided by a security firm agreed to by both parties.

Katiyo is expected to rule on the application on Monday.