Marshall Bwanya is a journalist based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Auxillia Mnangagwa sucked into dirty gold smuggling and laundering scandal

06 Oct 2023  |  Zimbabwe News Now  |  English  |  Gold Smuggling

First lady Auxillia Mnangagwa is implicated in a gold smuggling and money laundering scandal in Zimbabwe, as revealed by an Al Jazeera documentary. Uebert Angel, a key figure in the documentary, is shown discussing laundering operations with her. Angel's lawyer denies any criminal involvement or personal relationship with the First Lady, emphasizing a professional relationship with President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The documentary highlights the involvement of politically connected syndicates in depriving Zimbabwe of significant wealth.

Tags:

Gold Smuggling Corruption Money Laundering

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Paul Cochrane is a freelance journalist based in Udine, Italy. He lived in Beirut, Lebanon from 2002 to 2019, and in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 2019 until 2024.

He has written for over 80 publications worldwide, covering financial crime, business, higher education and skills developments, ...

Dubai, Switzerland, London: How the UAE became a smuggling hub for 'blood gold'

30 Dec 2020  |  Middle East Eye  |  English  |  Gold Smuggling

The UAE, particularly Dubai, has become a major hub for gold, including smuggled and conflict gold, due to minimal regulatory oversight and lax due diligence policies. The Financial Action Task Force and other organizations have criticized the UAE for inadequate anti-money laundering controls. Reports indicate that a significant portion of gold from conflict zones in Africa and South America ends up in Dubai, often passing through Switzerland. The London Bullion Markets Association has threatened to blacklist Dubai if it does not meet regulatory standards. The UAE has shown some willingness to comply, but it remains to be seen if meaningful reforms will be enacted.

Tags:

Gold Smuggling Conflict Minerals Money Laundering

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Mazino Dickson-Amagada is a multimedia journalist based in Columbia, United States of America.

Ghana vows to account for 'every single bar of gold' leaving the country

28 Feb 2018  |  TheCable  |  English  |  Gold Mining

The Ghanaian government, under the leadership of Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, has committed to ensuring that all gold exports are thoroughly tested, weighed, valued, and accounted for. This move aims to bring transparency and accountability to the country's economic management of resources. The government plans to curb gold smuggling by tightening controls and has set a goal to have 50% of its gold locally refined within five years. Despite not accusing any companies of misconduct, President Nana Akufo-Addo highlighted that around $5 billion in gold exports to the UAE were unaccounted for, suggesting that this might be due to smuggled gold from artisanal miners. In response to illegal mining activities, the government has also imposed a ban on small-scale mining.

Tags:

Smuggling Gold Mining Economic Management Resource Transparency

Samah Khater is a journalist based in Khartoum, Sudan.
Published Author of Sudan’s Gift: Love & Revolution 
Editor
Commentator
Analyst
News anchor at Sudan National TV
Fluent in English

Sudan Looks to Gold to Boost Economy, Denies Russian Smuggling

11 Mar 2022  |  www.voanews.com  |  English  |  Gold Smuggling

Sudan's military rulers have formed an emergency committee to address the country's economic crisis, highlighting gold mining as a potential solution. Despite denials from Sudan's ambassador to Russia, reports suggest rampant gold smuggling, including to Russia, amid sanctions over its Ukraine invasion. General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti, has been involved in efforts to stabilize the economy, while analysts point to the involvement of the Rapid Support Forces and Russian companies in smuggling activities. The situation is further complicated by Sudan's political instability following a military coup and ongoing protests.

Tags:

Gold Smuggling Sudan's Economy Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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Chris Muronzi is a journalist based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans outraged by Al Jazeera exposé on gold smuggling elite

30 Mar 2023  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Gold Smuggling

Revelations from an Al Jazeera documentary have sparked outrage in Zimbabwe, exposing a gold smuggling operation involving high-ranking government officials and ruling party members. The documentary, titled 'The Gold Mafia,' details how gold is smuggled from Zimbabwe to Dubai, facilitating money laundering through shell companies and corrupt officials. Key figures implicated include Uebert Angel, Henrietta Rushwaya, and Kamlesh Pattni. The exposé has led to widespread calls for justice and accountability, with critics highlighting the deep-rooted corruption and economic mismanagement plaguing the country. Government spokespeople have deflected blame, accusing Western entities of attempting to incite public anger.

Tags:

Gold Smuggling Corruption Economic Mismanagement

Interpretive

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Left

Political View

Elia Ntali is an award winning journalist with ten years experience writing on socio political, humanitarian and Health issues and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

He contributed articles to various online publication within and outside Zimbabwe including renowned international news outlets

CAAZ Official Apologizes to Grace Mugabe for Falsehoods in Al Jazeera Documentary

05 May 2023  |  allAfrica.com  |  English  |  Gold Smuggling

Cleopas Chidodo, the Head of Security at Robert Mugabe International Airport and an employee of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, has publicly apologized to former First Lady Grace Mugabe and her family for making false statements about them in an Al Jazeera documentary on gold smuggling and money laundering. Chidodo admitted to lying and expressed regret for damaging the Mugabe family's reputation. He also claimed that he was initially approached under the guise of being offered family scholarships before the conversation turned to mineral smuggling. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Financial Intelligence Unit has frozen assets of Chidodo and three others for suspected involvement in a gold-smuggling syndicate.

Tags:

Gold Smuggling Apology Money Laundering Documentary

Lloyd Takawira is a freelance journalist based in Harare, Zimbabwe. He has vast experience writing politics, governance and human rights stories. He also writes feature stories

Speaker Mudenda Stops Parliament From Investigating Gold Mafia Scandal

01 Apr 2023  |  chaminukanews24.com  |  English  |  Gold Smuggling

Speaker of the House of Assembly in Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has halted the Public Accounts Committee's investigation into the 'GOLD MAFIA' scandal, which was exposed by an AL JAZEERA documentary. The documentary revealed a network involved in gold smuggling and money laundering linked to politically connected individuals. Mudenda directed the committee to cease their inquiry, stating that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) are already investigating the matter. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also announced an investigation into the scandal. The opposition party CCC expressed disappointment over the lack of action taken against the individuals implicated in the documentary. Stephen Sarkozy Chuma of the CCC called for the arrest of those involved. The 'Gold Mafia' series by Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit exposed how criminals had infiltrated South African banks to launder money and smuggle gold.

Tags:

Gold Smuggling Corruption Money Laundering Investigative Journalism