Plot to arrest Tsvangirai on ‘fraud’ charges

HARARE- A team of detectives has completed investigations into dubious fraud charges against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and a close relative Hebson Makuvise, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Germany.

The case hinges on allegations of misappropriating US$1,5 million in public funds meant to buy the premier’s residence in an up-market Harare suburb. Impeccable sources told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that the docket was now with the Commissioner-General of police, Augustine Chihuri.

An officer in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), which carried out the investigations, said:  “Investigations are now complete and the docket is now with the commissioner-general who is just waiting for the go-ahead to arrest the prime minister.”

Cabinet ministers and senior government officials are normally arrested only after President Robert Mugabe has consented. CID chief superintendent Alison Nyamupaguma was leading the investigations team into Tsvangirai’s fraud case.

However, police spokesperson assistant commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena declined to comment on the matter. “For now we are not commenting on the matter,” was all Bvudzijena would say yesterday.

A fierce battle is raging behind the scenes between the law enforcement agents, securocrats, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and Zanu PF over the issue.

Information obtained this week shows that deep divisions have emerged, with the securocrats and law enforcement agents pushing for Tsvangirai’s arrest, while some Zanu PF politburo members were arguing that arresting the premier while the country was preparing for elections would be tantamount to committing political suicide.

Another battle is also reportedly brewing between RBZ governor Gideon Gono and law enforcement agents, who want the central bank to be the main complainant against Tsvangirai. However, sources said Gono was reluctant to do so.

Gono played a central role in negotiating with President Robert Mugabe for the release of the US$1,5 million for Tsvangirai’s official residence. The case has attracted the interest of the Joint Operations Command (Joc), which brings together army, police and intelligence chiefs.

Joc wants Tsvangirai arrested, although some of its members fear this could trigger political upheaval in the country ahead of elections which could propel him to power.

One ministerial source said: “The docket is ready and it’s with Chihuri, but the problem is that we are in a dilemma – to arrest or not to arrest. There are two arguments over the issue.

“We have the securocrats pushing for his arrest and arguing that politics aside, the man should face the music if he committed fraud, while another group is saying arresting him now might not be a good idea considering that we are going for elections next year. It will be viewed as political persecution. We also have Gono, who should be the complainant but he is resisting.”

Allegations are that Tsvangirai and Makuvise misappropriated US$1,5 million released by the RBZ in 2009 to purchase the house located at No 49 Kew Drive in Highlands. The house, a double storey mansion, is currently under renovations to ensure it meets standard quarters for a premier.

Tsvangirai is accused of double-dipping by taking money from the RBZ and Treasury for the same project. Allegations are that besides the US$1,5 million, close to US$1 million could also have been released from state coffers for the purchase and development of the same property.

The sources said Tsvangirai had already overshot his budget of US$1 million with the figure thought to have more than doubled by now. After the formation of the inclusive government in February 2009, there was a legitimate expectation on Tsvangirai’s part that the prime minister would move to State House, which was home to former president the late Canaan Banana.

Since Mugabe moved out of Zimbabwe House to his privately-owned home in Borrowdale, Tsvangirai expected to move into either State House or Zimbabwe House, but the president apparently blocked the move.

Tsvangirai requested funding from Mugabe to buy a house after he was denied access to the two state residences. When the MDC-T temporarily withdrew from government in October 2009, the premier’s residence was part of the issues he raised with Mugabe, over and above the outstanding GPA issues and lack of communication between him and the president.

Although Tsvangirai wanted US$3 million, Mugabe approved US$1,5 million for the project. This came days after the MDC-T ended its boycott of cabinet and government following a Sadc troika summit in Maputo, Mozambique to deal with the problem.

The paper trail of the movement of the US$1,5 million through banks shows that the money was transferred from the RBZ in November 2009 into a holding CBZ bank account. Makuvise then moved the money from the CBZ account to a ZB Bank account. US$140 000 was withdrawn from the ZB account and used to buy a residential stand, allegedly for Makuvise.

From ZB Bank, the funds were again transferred into Makuvise’s personal account at BancABC and later into the account of a prominent Harare law firm held at Interfin. The law firm has previously represented Tsvangirai. Several withdrawals were subsequently made over the past two years. Zimbabwe Independent