When I was attentively watching the last episode of the Al Jazeera ‘Gold Mafia’ exposé yesterday – there were expectedly some more troubling revelations made pertaining to the acts of corruption rooted in the country’s highest echelons of power.
Always never short of shocking new information recklessly spewed by the excitable self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ Uebert Angel – we were told how the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, could protect money launderers and gold smugglers – even allegedly using the airplane he would be travelling on for this purpose.
We also learnt from CAAZ (Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe) security manager Cleopas Chidodo how then First Lady, Grace Mugabe, would freely smuggle diamonds and ivory (allegedly acquired from elephant poaching) – which were flown as cargo without clearance and paperwork.
It was also most interesting knowing that, in Zimbabwe, when the so-called ‘First Family’ is travelling with the President, none of them are subject to any checks and searches at our international airport – thus, can easily move anything out of, and into, Zimbabwe at will.
However, what caught my attention the most was the ‘warning’ to the undercover Al Jazeera journalists (posing as Chinese criminals seeking to launder US$100 million in dirty money) by convicted gold smuggler Ewan Macmillian.
He told them, in no uncertain terms, “Do not trust any black person!”
Macmillian went to, “Don’t invest with a black guy. You will die. They will tell you just lies”.
These statements touched the very core of my heart.
However, not as some insult to black people.
Not in the slightest way!
What I found painful, though, was how packed those words were with the truth.
These are things that would never ordinarily be uttered in the public domain – in this politically correct world that we now live in – something I find rather sickening, since I am a staunch believer in the truth, regardless of who finds offense.
Who can deny that, we as a people – especially here on the African continent, in general, and in Zimbabwe, in particular – have suffered terribly, largely due to the lying thieving ways of those placed in positions of authority?
As much as it is undeniable that there are a number of factors responsible for the pathetic deplorable state we find ourselves – this high propensity for lying and stealing ranks high up there.