Leo Mugabe nabbed for smuggling flour

By Lance Guma and Violet Gonda
20 October 2005

Robert Mugabe’s nephew Leo Mugabe was arrested Tuesday on allegations of smuggling scarce flour to neighbouring Mozambique. The Makonde North legislator exported 600 bags of flour worth a staggering Z$500 billion (US$7m). With the country having to endure chronic bread shortages, questions are being asked on how he managed to get 30 tonnes of a controlled product across the border.

The charge sheet makes reference to ‘illegal exportation’ and leaves room for an alternative charge of ‘dealing in controlled products’. According to former Grain Marketing Board general manager, Renson Gasela, the possibility exists Mugabe sold flour from a wheat farm he took in Mhangura. That however also remains illegal under Zimbabwean law. Mugabe is well known in the country as an incompetent football administrator and allegedly defrauded the football association which he led. This resulted in his expulsion but unsurprisingly he was never arrested.

The scandals do not end there. The construction of the Harare International Airport was mired in controversy after a company linked to Mugabe won the tender to construct, in 2001. An unholy trio comprising Leo, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s youngest son Kojo and Hani Yamani the son of a powerful Sheikh got into business together.
Judie Mcleod, award winning journalist and founding editor of Canada Free Press, who has been writing about this scam said a huge ammount of money was made after the completion of the Harare Airport.

She said proof that Robert Mugabe approved this was the Cabinet Order that awarded the little known company called Air Harbour Technologies (AHT) the tender. AHT belonged to Leo and company and it still got the contract despite its fourth place ranking by the tender board.
The journalist said Robert Mugabe was being linked to the payment of unauthorized commissions during the construction of the airport.

As current Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Communications, Leo Mugabe has made a call for the takeover of independent newspapers by the CIO to be investigated. It’s not clear if he is being punished for making this call.

Meanwhile Gasela says the arrest is just a tip of the iceberg. Many senior politicians are exporting scarce products like sugar, grain and flour in exchange for foreign currency while ordinary people endure shortages.