Candid Comment: Zim a haven for international criminal syndicates

THE existence of Rwanda genocide kingpin, Protais Mpiranya in Zimbabwe only remained a rumour until news came out that one of the world’s most wanted men had been living in the country.

The 20-year manhunt for one of the world’s most brutal killers came to an end last year in a cemetery outside Harare.

The body of Mpiranya, former commander of the Rwandan presidential guard indicted for genocide is buried in Harare under a stone slab bearing a false name.

This is slowly becoming a Zimbabwean story. Mpiranya had been hiding in Zimbabwe, and authorities took a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the late genocide architect.

The same can be equated to former Ethiopian leader Mengistu Haile Mariam, who is also believed to be staying in Zimbabwe.

Mengistu, according to reports, still lives in Harare, despite an Ethiopian court verdict which found him guilty of genocide in absentia. Mengistu's government is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of between 500 000 and two million Ethiopians, mostly between 1983 and 1985.

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Despite the heinous crimes being faced by the former leader, interestingly he found a comfortable home in Zimbabwe.

This is a man who is wanted globally for genocide. Fast forward to 2023, there are the latest revelations that Zimbabwe has been home to one of the world’s most wanted criminal mafia leaders, Christopher Vincent Kinahan. The Irish mafia leader has been in Zimbabwe since late last year.

Kinahan, born in London, is the founder of what has become known as the Kinahan Transnational Crime Organisation, a notorious Irish cartel with seven senior members featured on the United States’ most wanted list. Kinahan and his sons currently attract a US$5 million reward for information leading to their capture and arrest, according to the US State Department website.

The Kinahan family and their inner circle are also sought for questioning by Irish and Spanish law enforcement agencies in connection with the murder, narcotics smuggling and distribution, money laundering and passport fraud.

In an interview with the Independent, Immigration boss Respect Gono said they were not aware of Kinahan’s wanted status.

This is shocking, coming from an organisation that should be well-equipped to safeguard Zimbabwe’s borders together with state security agencies.

The Irish mafia boss has been coming in and out of Zimbabwe.

A lot of questions have been raised as to who is protecting these people.

Therefore, the government must come clean on such matters because continued arrogance on its part will only play a bigger role in hampering its re-engagement prospects. Re-engagement should not only be on economic matters but fighting crime is also of great importance. It is not a palatable situation for the country to be painted as a haven for criminal syndicates.

Such a scenario only leaves Zimbabwe in a pariah state status.