Mugabe's pilot implicated alongside Kamushinda in...

Mugabe's pilot implicated alongside Kamushinda in US1 million SME bank scandal

Zim now Writer Robert Mhlanga, the former pilot and confidant of Zimbabwe's ex-president Robert Mugabe has been implicated in a complex money laundering scheme.

Court documents filed in South Africa's Gauteng High Court by SME Bank's liquidators paint a picture of a sophisticated operation that saw millions of dollars stolen from the Namibian bank and funneled through various entities before ultimately reaching Mhlanga's pockets.

The liquidators, Ian McLaren and David Bruni, allege that a total of N$18.8 million (US$1 million) was transferred from SME Bank to Mhlanga's accounts and laundered through a South African law firm, Paul Casasola & Associates. The stolen funds were channeled through a web of companies and individuals, with Mhlanga's ex-lawyer, Paul Casasola, playing a pivotal role in the scheme.

Mhlanga, a prominent figure in Zimbabwean business circles, has long been associated with the Mugabe family. His involvement in the SME Bank scandal sheds light on the extent of corruption and abuse of power that characterized the Mugabe era. The revelation also raises questions about the regulatory oversight of SME Bank and the potential complicity of other individuals and institutions.

The court documents reveal a complex network of transactions and entities used to launder the stolen funds. The money was transferred in small amounts to avoid detection, routed through various companies, and eventually deposited into the Casasola & Associates Trust Account. Mhlanga, acting through his company, Liparm Entities, instructed Casasola to disburse the funds.

While Mhlanga has since repaid the stolen funds, the case has exposed the intricate mechanisms used to siphon money from a bank intended to support small businesses in Namibia. The scandal highlights the vulnerability of financial institutions to corruption and the need for robust regulatory frameworks to prevent such abuses.

The mastermind behind the heist is believed to be Enock Kamushinda, a Zimbabwean national who was the managing director of SME Bank during the time of the thefts.