THE case of a Harare couple claiming that Zanu PF bigwigs wrestled a Filabusi mine from them has taken a new twist with the two now being accused of misappropriating funds, NewsDay has learnt.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
The couple Nqobile Khumalo and Francisca Mufambi recently accused Sport, Arts and Culture minister Andrew Langa and Zanu PF politburo member Naison Ndlovu of fraudulently changing the directorship of Trianic Investments which owns the Filabusi mine.
But new information appeared to show that the couple allegedly misappropriated funds before masterminding the arrest, detention and subsequent deportation of one of the foreign investors.
One of Trianic shareholders, Oliver Chikarara, said the change of directorship was above board as confirmed by a resolution made during an annual general meeting held in Filabusi on October 29 2012.
The directors, according to the resolutions, were “authorised to get new shareholders who would bring in contributions by way of mining claims, expertise and professional value to comply with the Zimbabwe’s indigenisation laws and to get a fresh investment licence duly amended by the Zimbabwe Investment Authority”.
The meeting, according to the minutes, also resolved to reverse Khumalo’s 22% and Mufambi’s 20% shares.
The resolutions of the meeting were confirmed by a Bulawayo High Court order (Case No. HC3986/12) in which Justice Lavender Makoni ruled: “The allocation of 20% shares and 22% shares to Francisca Mufambi and Nqobile Khumalo respectively be and is hereby reversed.”
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The court further upheld the dissolution of the couple’s directorship and authorised the company to secure new shareholders.
Chikarara, who owns 7%, told NewsDay: “Zanu PF bigwigs did not elbow anyone from a mine. They were only invited and taken on merit because they had the resources needed, unlike the complainants who lied that they had the resources needed yet they did not have (them).”
Chikarara accused Khumalo of peddling falsehoods after he allegedly defrauded the company of $1 800 and the matter was reported to Filabusi police on September 9 2012, but he was only arrested on December 30 2013 after having fled.
Although Khumalo and Mufambi claimed that one of the foreign investors, Dray Meyer Reouven (44%), was working illegally, receipt number 934139 confirmed that he had paid $1 000 for a temporary work permit at the Department of Immigration.
Langa, who is also Zanu PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman, holds 10%, Ndlovu, a former Senate deputy president, has 5%, Filabusi councillor Sikholwethu B Ngwenya (10%), Avi Habot (5%) and Dorcas Tiwaringe (4%).
Khumalo and Mufambi could not be reached for comment yesterday.
