By Thane Musariri
The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) Youth League has issued a stern warning, vowing to shut down all of Zimbabwe’s borders and airports to tackle the widespread smuggling of precious metals, particularly gold. The party has accused individuals associated with the ruling ZANU PF party of being involved in the illicit gold trade, while criticizing the government for failing to take action against this unlawful activity.
During a recent MRP rally in Bulawayo’s Lobengula Hall, Mudenda Chilumbo, Chairperson of the MRP Youth League, spoke on the urgency of reclaiming the spirit of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. Chilumbo called for a decisive halt to the exploitation of the nation’s resources by the ruling elite and urged Zimbabweans to take action against gold smugglers.
Chilumbo specifically highlighted key border points, including Plumtree, Beitbridge, and Kazungula, as well as Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls International Airport. The MRP Youth League intends to disrupt operations at these critical transportation hubs, aiming to prevent flights from departing and obstruct the movement of haulage trucks, effectively halting the illegal gold smuggling.
The party’s strong stance follows the recent release of the Al Jazeera documentary, “Gold Mafia,” which exposed extensive gold smuggling networks operating in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The investigation implicated individuals allegedly connected to the Zimbabwean government leader Emmerson Mnangagwa and his family as well as other state institutions. These criminal networks exploit gold to launder significant amounts of illicit funds, employing a complex web of counterfeit identities, fake companies, and forged documents.
The MRP’s call for border and airport closures reflects the growing frustration among Zimbabweans, particularly in light of economic challenges and the hardships faced by professionals such as doctors, nurses, and teachers. By taking this firm stance, the MRP seeks to mobilize public support and confront those responsible for the exploitation of the country’s resources.
