President Mnangagwa desperate to retrieve funds looted by Mugabe allies

Zimbabwe's leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa

The task to smoke out former cabinet ministers suspected of cashing in on corruption is part of Mnangagwa’s plan to find $2 billion of state funds believed to have been spirited to foreign bank accounts.
Zimbabwe's new president has asked that Interpol track down allies of Robert Mugabe who fled the country after he was removed last month.

The ageless tyrant's key supporters Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Paddy Zhanda, all former ministers, are believed to be among the prime targets because they are suspected of stealing assets under the alleged systemic corruption of the Mugabe years.

They were key members of the Generation 40 faction of Grace Mugabe, the ex-president’s wife. This group clashed ceaselessly with Mr Mnangagwa’s Lacoste faction.


The conflict between the groups prompted Mr Mugabe, 93, to remove Mr Mnangagwa as vice-president.  It was that move that precipitated the coup d’état that forced Mugabe's resignation.

Mr Mnangagwa, 75, promised better economic stewardship and improved relations with the outside world as cornerstones of his forward-looking government.  The Zimbabwean economy is now half the size it was in 2000, shortly before Mr Mugabe’s poorly-handled, violent land reforms began.

Obert Mpofu, the home affairs minister, said the government planned to enlist the support of Interpol to track down those suspected of bringing down the economy by cashing in on corrupt practices.  Harare wants suspects seized outside Zimbabwe to be brought home.

Said Mr Mpofu, “We are doing everything possible to ensure that those who have committed crimes within Zimbabwe but are outside Zimbabwe are brought to book.  If it means engaging Interpol, we will go that route.”

When the military launched Operation Restore Legacy on the night of November 14, prominent Generation 40 members were rounded up.

Among them was Ignatius Chombo, the former finance minister, who is in custody over alleged corruption offences going back more than ten years.