Transport Minister Obert Mpofu alleged to have demanded a US$10 million bribe from Lovemore Kurotwi in a billion-dollar diamond deal yesterday said he was a successful businessman and would not have asked for even a bottle of water from Kurotwi because he knew his status.
Kurotwi is charged with defrauding the government of US$2 billion together with former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chief executive Dominic Mubaiwa.
"It is a serious joke that (Kurotwi) would make this allegation, which he did not make before the President. It is drama by Mai Mtetwa and her team and it is just the nonsense that people say when they are in a tight corner," Mpofu said referring to Kurotwi's lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
"I know Kurotwi, and considering my status, I would not even ask for a bottle of water from him let alone the US$10 million. It was just some drama meant for the consumption of the media and the whole thing is nonsensical. I am a businessman who has been operating for a long, long time.I can even employ these guys," Mpofu said pointing at Kurotwi and Mubaiwa according to The Herald.
Kurotwi was behind Core Mining which entered into a joint venture with the ZMDC to run the Canadile Mining at Chiadzwa. Core mining was kicked out after the discovery of the "fraud". Mpofu was Minister of Mines at the time.
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