AN alleged property-buying spree  by Mines minister Obert Mpofu (pictured) has attracted the interest of a parliamentary committee investigating the plunder of the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields.

Mpofu who already owns one of the tallest buildings in Bulawayo –York House – has reportedly been splashing thousands of dollars on high-value properties in Victoria Falls and Bulawayo.

Information gleaned from various sources indicates that the parliamentary portfolio committee on Mines and Energy is sweating to establish how the minister allegedly acquired at least 27 properties in Victoria Falls alone over the last few months.

The properties include a supermarket in Victoria Falls’ Chinotimba high density suburb, three houses in a medium-density area, two cruise boats on the Zambezi, five houses in Mkhosana high density suburb, three houses in Chinotimba, two industrial stands, one large stand in Chisuma, one big industrial stand next to Chinotimba stadium, four industrial stands on the Airport road, and four medium density plots.

The purchases, which are said to have been done mostly in cash, are reported to be valued in millions of dollars.

For the past two months, The Standard has been inundated with calls from Victoria Falls residents who alleged that Mpofu was “taking over the town.”

Some of them even provided pictures of the properties that were allegedly bought by Mpofu in cash.

Hwange West MP, Gift Mabhena said the alleged buying spree was the talk of the town.

“People are just talking, but you cannot stop an individual from buying property, but the way he is buying here is just unusual,” Mabhena said. “I am told in all the transactions, he has been putting cash upfront, and it’s big amounts involved.”

Zanu PF is also said to be making its own investigations but there was no confirmation from the party.

Sources said the committee already has a dossier of some of the people behind companies that were given licences by government to mine the precious stones.

The background information shows that some of them were mercenaries, ex-convicts and fraudsters.
On Friday, Mpofu refused to comment on the properties.

He initially gave his mobile phone to Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, who gave it back to him after it was mentioned that the matter was about Mpofu’s properties.

He then claimed to be in a meeting and demanded that questions be sent in writing.

But in an interview with The Standard, three weeks ago, he described the claims that he had purchased vast tracts of property as “absolute nonsense”.

Last week, Mpofu told the Chronicle newspaper that the allegations against him were by elements that were benefiting from illegal diamond mining in Chiadzwa.

“It is a known fact that I am a businessman and businessmen buy properties. I do not want to talk about my business,” Mpofu was quoted as having said

“Everyone knows that I own York House in Bulawayo which is of higher value.

“Why should they be excited by the fact that I bought cheaper houses in a high-density suburb?”

Mpofu said he would soon name and shame officials who “have been sponsoring journalists in writing stories to vilify and demonise the ministry”.

Mpofu also owns a number of businesses in Bulawayo and is rumoured to be behind the construction of a state of the art garage between Fourth Avenue and Fife Street.

He is also one of the biggest ranchers in Matabeleland North.

The minister has been under scrutiny following revelations that some of the directors at Mbada and Canadile – the two companies that were controversially given licences to mine diamonds in Chiadzwa - had criminal records.

However, when he appeared before the parliamentary committee Mpofu defended their appointment saying it was impossible to get a “clean diamond investor.”

BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE

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