By Own Correspondent|Former President Robert Mugabe has revealed that he lost close to US$1 million cash to a relative and his employees.

The suspects, Constance Mugabe (50), Saymore Nheketwa (47), Andrew Mahumbe (37) and Johannes Mapurisa (50), were arrested early this month for allegedly stealing US$150 000 from Mr Mugabe’s rural home in Zvimba.

However, according to updated court papers released yesterday, Mugabe said he lost US$922 000 to the suspects whose case was remanded to February 7 this year by Chinhoyi Magistrate Mr Tawengwa Chibanda.

The court heard that in 2016, Mugabe packed books in four briefcases. He took them to his library at his homestead in Zvimba.

He included a black polo briefcase containing US$1 million. He gave his house keeper Constance the briefcase for safekeeping. 

Mugabe did not tell her what the briefcase contained. On March 1, 2018, Mugabe demanded the briefcase from Constance who allegedly professed ignorance about its whereabouts but promised to look for it. 

Mugabe later ordered one of his employees, Mr Edson Jemwa, who is the group human resources manager at Gushungo Holdings, to look for the briefcase on January 6 this year. Mugabe had received news on how the suspects were living luxuriously. Jemwa went to Zvimba and met Constance who led him to the recovery of one Amiet briefcase and another Blue Deisey Club briefcase at the former President’s summer house.

The Black Polo Club briefcase was recovered from Mr Mugabe’s main bedroom. A police report was made and the suspects were arrested.-