Simon Rudland, the co-owner of Gold Leaf Tobacco Zimbabwe, has dismissed the Al Jazeera documentary called “Gold Mafia” as sensationalized and extreme. He argues that the documentary only presents selective snippets of wild and broad claims without proper context or evidence to support them. In a short video posted on social media platforms this Friday, Rudland said:
This is done to traumatise and sensationalise for maximum exposure. Any investigation into this documentary is welcomed and will reveal the extent of the fabrication of the information portrayed by Al Jazeera.
Rudland was responding to reports by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit) Rudland is the one assisting broke the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) with money to buy gold from miners.
In the first episode of “Gold Mafia,” Al Jazeera claims that Simon Rudland is connected to Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU PF and has a unique agreement with the government that allows him to transport gold to Dubai and bring back cash to Zimbabwe. According to Simon Nango, a South African Airways customer service agent, Rudland’s bags are not searched and he uses Fly Emirates.
The documentary claims that due to sanctions on Zimbabwe, importing cash is difficult, and gold is an effective way to bypass those restrictions. Simon Rudland is accused of helping the government evade these sanctions by lending them money from his company, Gold Leaf Tobacco Zimbabwe, to buy gold from miners. Rudland then provides an advance payment to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which is the sole buyer, refiner, and exporter of the precious metal. Fidelity buys the gold and gives it to Rudland to export.
According to former Finance and Economic Development Minister, Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe is losing around US$1 billion annually due to smuggling, and Simon Rudland is at the heart of this operation.
RBZ has frozen Rudland’s bank accounts together with those of his co-accused – Uebert Angel, Ewan McMillan, Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube, and Fredrick Kunaka
Where is the keyboard Brigade?. Isn’t this a chance to interrogate him? Oh he is white, you don’t have the language , let alone the knowledge to interrogate him on the issues that Al Jazeera reported. You might even ask him for a job.
We after number one not the surrogate. We need change.
Zisopamuroi
You are deluded if you think there is an African you can call number one in the
complex world of currency smuggling. That’s a game for whites,who run the global financial system play.
Those who are naive and don’t know how sanctions are busted continue blubbering and foaming at the mouth. The fact is Zimbabwe sells gold. We sell our gold to whomsoever comes with money. All money on earth is dirty. The USA killed 400000 Iraqis to replenish their oil reserves and now they are busy killing Ukrainians. Kugocha kunoda kwamai. Anyone who has ever sold anything knows that you don’t care whether the money came out of the bra or panty…. U take the money dammit!!
So long as money is flowing into Zimbabwe what do we care?? All this talk about money laundering is based on the USA fear of terrorism and they should stop molesting other nations to avoid terrorism! We are not afraid of terrorism bcz we are FRIENDS TO ALL AND ENEMIES TO NONE. The war on terror is strictly America’s war which they bring on themselves by their stupidity. So go Henrietta go you’re a hero of the struggle for economic freedom!!!
Loud and clear
Well said
So u trying to tell us you support the ongoing corruption by just a handful of people against the whole national population of Zim at times if u know you’re going utter that horrible nonsense u rather be quiet u support mbavha if the gold &everything was governd legal & transparent wherever would this emamanating from u dead from neck upwards
Sanctions busting yes
But where is money going. Is it harare or Dubai?
Such an opaque system will result in leakage and lost revenue
Why are only their cronies benifiting.
There’s no value addition it’s just looting. Just imagine 18% facilitation fee. What a loss.
The rbz governor himself has said there’s no sanctions on the bank.
Why don’t they sell the gold straight from fidelity. There’s no need for middle men
Once the gold is sold the miners are paid
Instead they are exporting the USD with the gold.
Zisopamuroi
What do mean sanction busting
Who is benifiting from it
No schools no roads no hospitals
Not to forget this is one metal with a few dealers what about the rest. They want to talk about 17 billion debt restructuring and are losing 15 billion from diamonds alone. What do they need loans if they do successful. They don’t plough anything back into the economy.wheres all the factories and export potential that this money can be used for
That gold is for Zimbambweans.Why should it be an issue how they sell it and to who.Go
hang you dictators.Its a
God given precious mineral.Sell yours we won’t be bothered. 😀😀😀
Who are these ‘the’ you are rEferring to? What do you about Conan ing development? Nothing it seems. If I buy a sack of Macimbi from Kezi and carry the lot to Chinhoyi, do people in Kezi expect me to bring more money after I sold my sack? . That’s the way you think. I
Let’s not forget this is just a few dealers in one precious metal. What about the other metals and other destinations. The economy is teterring on the brink of collapse yet only zanupf officials are benifiting.when the gold is finished are they going to move to Dubai and leave us with the spoils.recently they talking about 17 billion debt restructuring yet they squandered 15billion from diamonds alone.for what ,their own selfish desires. The people of Zimbabwe have no schools no roads no hospitals. Who exactly is sanction busting helping. Its definitely not the people
If Mr Rudland is so innocent as he claims! Why was he shot 5 times? Dor what reason and by whom? Makes you wonder who’s bullshitting who?
Its all looting no matter the cover…