MDC-T rubbishes Chinamasa’s defence of his son over $7 million smuggling claims

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) has rubbished an attempt by Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, to clear his son’s name over allegations that he tried to smuggle US$7 million from Zimbabwe.

Social media was at the weekend abuzz with claims that Chinamasa’s son, Tino, had been arrested at the Beitbridge Border post attempting to take $7 million out of the country.
Chinamasa stepped in and issued a statement dismissing the rumours on Tuesday.

“These rumours and claims are false, evil malicious and highly mischievous,” said the minister who saw the online claims as part of a scheme to soil his image.

He said he would not be intimidated by the perceived smear campaign as he pursued government-backed economic reforms.

In an interview with Nehanda Radio, the MDC-T national spokesperson Obert Gutu dismissed Chinamasa’s remarks.

“Patrick Chinamasa’s press release regarding the rumour around his son trying to illegally take out $7 million in cash outside Zimbabwe is entirely unconvincing and unsatisfactory. His explanation is a no brainer,” said Gutu.

Gutu said Tino was an adult who should have stood up to speak for himself.

“Can Tino tell the nation where, exactly, he was at the time that it’s being alleged that he tried to illegally export the money through Beitbridge border post?

“Up until such a time that we hear directly from Tino and that the nation is also able to verify where, exactly, he was at the time of attempting to remove the money from Zimbabwe illegally, both Patrick Chinamasa and his son have a case to answer,” he said.

Chinamasa has in the recent past clashed with other cabinet ministers. He has fought from the same corner with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, John Mangudya, against Patrick Zhuwao, the youth empowerment minister, on the indigenisation policy.

Zhuwao, who has also accused Chinamasa of working with foreign anti-Mugabe agents, wanted banks to submit to a hawkish indigenisation programme but the finance minister insisted that the financial sector had met its obligations and must not be ruffled.

President Robert Mugabe, who is Zhuwao’s uncle, later absolved Chinamasa. The war between Chinamasa and Zhuwao is seen as an extension of the bitter rivalry between two Zanu (PF) factions jostling to succeed Mugabe, now 92.

Chinamasa reportedly belongs to a faction led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa while Zhuwao has been linked to another dubbed Generation 40 (G40) of which current Higher and Tertiary Education minister, Jonathan Moyo, Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere and Mugabe’s wife, Grace Higher are said to be part.

“I am actually emboldened to accelerate implementation of our reform agenda in order to turn around the fortunes of our economy,” said Chinamasa in his statement.

Tino has not yet publicly denied the claim that he intended to externalise millions of dollars while the police or customs officials have also not issued statements on the matter.