Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Temba Dube
18 November 2008
Harare — SENIOR officials allegedly dismissed seven National Youth Service (NYS) graduates from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Bulawayo branch for allegedly unearthing shady foreign currency deals.
A memo addressed to the RBZ Governor, Dr Gideon Gono and dated 6 November, which was leaked to Chronicle by sources close to the story, alleged that there was rampant corruption and numerous underhand foreign currency dealings at the RBZ financial Intelligence Inspectorate and Evaluation office in Bulawayo.
The sources alleged that the seven were dismissed after "stepping on the toes of some big guns" by raiding Eskimo Hut for selling goods in foreign currency without a licence.
The raid was reportedly carried out on 23 October and R5 983, US$320 and 20 pounds were confiscated.
The youth service graduates are said to have been dumbfounded, when on the following day, their superior (name supplied) summoned them and instead of showering them with praise, dismissed them.
They had been attached to the branch since 2005.
During their three years at the RBZ, the graduates among other things, reportedly arrested suspects and recovered money that was earned illegally.
The money amounted to R400 000, US$10 000, Z$15 billion (revalued) and P6 000.
They also recovered 300 grammes of gold bound for externalisation and unearthed scams in which some RBZ bosses were allowing some shops to sell goods in forex without licences.
The graduates are then reported to have filed the leaked memo, in which they alleged that most illegal foreign currency dealers were working in cahoots with RBZ officials who supply them with cash and shield them from arrest.
They also claimed that at times gold recovered from suspects was never deposited at the central bank.
They said the owners bribed RBZ officials and the police and got their gold back without going to trial.
The NYS graduates expressed dissatisfaction with working conditions at the branch and said they were frustrated by the actions of their superiors who often hindered progress by sometimes calling them off certain assignments where they had vested interests.
"We are not happy about the reporting structure at the financial intelligence office. They (superiors) are derailing progress by at times taking sides when achievements like the Eskimo Hut raid are made. The scandal rocking the main Bulawayo RBZ branch was reported to office bearers long ago but no action was taken," read part of the memo.
The allegations come barely two weeks after a massive scandal involving 24 workers from the Bulawayo branch who were suspended after it was discovered that they were giving themselves amounts that were way above the then daily withdrawal limit.
Sources within the central bank said criminal charges against the bank employees could not be pressed, as there was nothing criminal that they had done.
Efforts to get a comment from the heads of the RBZ intelligence office in Bulawayo, Mr Tendayi Chasi and Mr Misheck Moyo, were however unsuccessful.
When this reporter visited their offices soon after lunch, an official said they had gone out but would be back before the end of the day.
They could not be reached on their mobile phones and on calling their office, it was first said they had gone out.
Later, the person who answered the phone said they were not at work.
"They are not at work today (Monday), you will have to try to reach them tomorrow," said the person who answered the phone.
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