In a significant development, the State has concluded its case against Henrietta Rushwaya, the controversial Zimbabwe Miners Federation President accused of smuggling 6kg of gold valued at USD 333,042.28.
Rushwaya’s trial, which commenced on September 18th, 2023, is now entering a crucial phase as the defence prepares to present its side of the story.
The charges against Henrietta Rushwaya stem from an incident on October 26, 2020, when she was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Airport security identified suspicious objects in her hand luggage through X-ray monitoring.
A subsequent search uncovered four gold bars, but Rushwaya failed to produce the necessary export permit, instead presenting a commercial invoice and packing list for the gold on behalf of a company called All Japan 786 Private Limited.
According to the State, this mode of gold transportation was unlawful.
Zimbabwe strictly regulates gold exports. Fidelity Printers and Refiners Private Limited is the sole authorized exporter of gold in the country.
To export gold legally, individuals or companies must possess a Gold Dealership License, and all exports must be accompanied by specific documents, including a Bill of Export, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and an RBZ Authorization Letter.
Fidelity Printers and Refiners are responsible for the secure movement of gold consignments to the airport.
Initially charged alongside Rushwaya were Stephen Chenjerai Tserayi and Raphios Mufandauya. However, the State has withdrawn charges against both individuals, reshaping the dynamics of the case.
The developments surrounding Rushwaya’s gold smuggling trial have been closely monitored since her arrest in 2020. With the State now having presented its case, the focus shifts to the defence’s strategy and Rushwaya’s quest to clear her name.
NPA’s Full Statement On Henrietta Rushwaya Trial
STATE CASE CLOSED IN RUSHWAYA CASE
The state has closed its case against Henrietta Rushwaya (56) who is appearing in the Anti-Corruption Court at the High Court of Harare on charges of smuggling 6kg of gold valued at USD333 042.28. The accused was scheduled to appear before the High Court from the 18. to the 22nd of September 2023 and the trial is proceeding accordingly.
The State is alleging that on the 26th of October 2020, the accused person went through the VIP route at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport evading security checkpoints. Upon going through an X- ray monitoring machine a suspicious object in the accused person’s luggage was identified.
A physical search was conducted by a Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe security officer which led to the recovery of four gold bars.
The accused person failed to produce an exporter’s permit and instead produced a commercial invoice and packing list on behalf of a company named All Japan 786 Private Limited which purportedly authorized her to transport the gold. It is the State’s case that it was unlawful to export gold using these documents.
In terms of the law Fidelity Printers and Refiners Private Limited is the sole authorized exporter of gold in Zimbabwe. For an individual or company to export gold, a Gold Dealership License is required.
All gold exports must be accompanied by a Bill of Export, Fidelity Printers and Refiners Commercial Invoice, Fidelity Printers and Refiners Packing List CD1 Form and RBZ Authorization Letter.
Fidelity Printers and Refiners is also responsible for the movement of the consignment of gold to the airport and will only handover the package to the courier on the Airside. An individual or company cannot physically possess the gold and or package before entering the Airside.
The accused person was initially charged with two others namely Stephen Chenjerai Tserayi (47) and Raphios Mufandauya (40). However, the State has withdrawn charges against the two.
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NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe’s Alarming Gold Smuggling Crisis
The gold smuggling crisis in Zimbabwe was exposed through Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia investigation, which revealedd a network of individuals involved in a billion-dollar smuggling operation. The key players allegedly include Kamlesh Pattni, Ewan MacMillian, and Henrietta Rushwaya among others,
Source iHarare
