RBZ governor Mangudya exposes ‘sanctions lie’ in response to Al Jazeera documentary
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya on Monday sensationally exposed the ruling Zanu-PF party by stressing that there are no sanctions on Zimbabwean exports and imports.
He made the statement while dismissing a snippet of an Al Jazeera Investigative Journalism Directorate film that claimed that the government was using the RBZ to outsmart sanctions imposed on the southern African nation.
Zanu-PF has, for the past two decades, been using the notion that the country is under sanctions from western countries as a launchpad for the economic downturn facing the country.
“It is particularly strange that the reports claim that ‘through the Bank, Government is using illicit ways as a scheme to bust international sanctions placed on political leaders and government entities’.
“The Bank is not a sanctioned entity, and the cited individuals are not sanctioned persons either. There are no sanctions on Zimbabwean exports and imports, including trade in gold, to warrant Zimbabwe to ‘circumvent international sanctions’ through illicit trade in gold,” read the statement.
“As such, the claim that there is ‘a scheme to bust international sanctions using illicit ways’ shows beyond doubt that the peddlers of this narrative have a sinister agenda with nefarious objectives of tarnishing both the Bank and the Republic of Zimbabwe.”
In a statement released Monday morning, Mangudya accused Aljazeera of having a sinister agenda because the leaked snippets did not include the Bank’s responses to 32 questions sent by the Al Jazeera Investigative Unit in connection with the allegations.
“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) is concerned and disturbed by sensationally wild, false and malicious media reports, carried in snippets of an unscreened Al Jazeera documentary, produced by the network’s Investigative Unit, purveying the impression that the Bank is “Southern Africa’s laundromat” or “Southern Africa’s laundry service” for an alleged African gold mafia involved in illicit gold dealings, corruption and money laundering,” read the statement.
“The outrageous reports quote one of the cited individuals as boasting that he has diplomatic cover to “fly dirty cash into Zimbabwe where it can be laundered through gold and other investments”.
“Another individual is reported to have asserted that “there is an opportunity, a hell of a big opportunity to wash money here [in Zimbabwe]”. Yet another self-serving claim is that one individual bragged that his phone “is on speed dial” with the Bank’s Governor. These are all false and malicious allegations.”
“It is unbelievable that such bizarre claims, allegedly made by private individuals who have no relationship with the Bank whatsoever, have been elevated to gospel truths and published with reckless abandon.
“It is particularly strange that the reports claim that “through the Bank, Government is using illicit ways as a scheme to bust international sanctions placed on political leaders and government entities”. The Bank is not a sanctioned entity, and the cited individuals are not sanctioned persons either.”
Government critics always argue that the economy is failing because of Zanu-PF policies and corruption by bigwigs.
The main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the statement by Mangudya shows that the government has been lying.
“The RBZ Governor has confirmed that there are no sanctions on Zimbabwean imports and exports. Zanu-PF has been lying that such sanctions are in place.
“The dunderheads have nowhere to hide. Nick Mangwana (government spokesperson) confirmed that they’re corrupt. We know they’ve failed inexcusable,” she said.
