Flamboyant businessman and Zifa President, Phillip Chiyangwa has dismissed claims that he had been arrested. Chiyangwa said that the “fake news” was the work of people who wanted to tarnish his image. This comes after Voice of America and Studio 7 claimed that Chiyangwa had been arrested while trying to flee the country on Sunday. Chiyangwa was claimed to have been arrested with bags of cash.
Chiyangwa spoke to South African Publication, The Star on Monday and said he was disappointed with the lies being told about him. Said Chiyangwa
As you can hear, I am talking to you directly. I am a bona fide businessman and I have worked hard for everything that I have.
…I have never held a cabinet post or position in government. Why do people want to put me in the same basket as people like (Professor Jonathan) Moyo and (Saviour) Kasukuwere? That is rubbish.
Former Ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo have not been seen in public since the military takeover. There are unconfirmed reports that the two have left the country and are in exile. Former Minister of Finance, Ignatius Chombo, on the other hand, is in remand prison awaiting trial for charges of fraud, criminal abuse of office and contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act
Of late, social media has been awash with rumours that Chiyangwa was arrested by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces during Operation Restore Legacy in which the military said that it was targeting the criminals around President Robert Mugabe.
More: Independent Online