HARARE – Al Jazeera announced on Thursday that it had paused a four-part investigative documentary into official corruption in Zimbabwe but did not provide any explanations.
It had scheduled Thursday (12 PM CAT) to air the first episode of Gold Mafia, a two-year investigation by the news network headquartered in Qatar.
Additional episodes of the documentary which has already brought fear to the Zimbabwe elites before its release, were scheduled for March 9, 16, and 23 according to the information by the news network.
“The report we were planning to release will no longer be released this morning (March 2). Bear with us while a new release time is arranged, ” said Al Jazeera in a brief statement.
The investigation was conducted by undercover journalists from Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit who joined rival gangs that control Africa’s gold, according to a statement published ahead of the planned first broadcast.
In the episode of Gold Mafia, the investigation examines how a worldwide shadow economy is supported by society’s enduring obsession with gold.
It reveals how governments, regulators, and international financial organisations participated in the criminal activity.
“Criminal networks turn dirty cash into gold, which is sold around the world. The investigation leads to the highest offices of state in southern Africa,” a teaser of the documentary reveals.
A billion dollars’ worth of black money needs to be cleaned up, according to undercover reporters.
A fictional Mr. Stanley, a Chinese criminal with connections to the Triads, is the team’s leader. His undercover journalists make friends with members of competing gold mafia groups.
A controversial pastor from the UK named Uebert Angel promises to clean up US$1.2 billion of money illegally obtained from China.
In addition, Uebert Angel serves as Zimbabwe’s ambassador-at-large to 85 nations after being appointed to the position by President Mnangagwa.
He promises to fly Mr. Stanley’s illicit funds into Zimbabwe using his diplomatic cover so that they can be cleaned up through gold as well as other investments.
“I am the second largest diplomat in the country. Right now I can have a bag like this with US$1.2 billion and put red tape written diplomat.
“Nobody can touch it. It is a very, very easy thing,” Uebert Angel tells undercover reporters.
In response to the yet to be seen Al Jazeera documentary, ZANU PF trolls on social media declared to be unbothered, further claiming that they are a powerful system that will not be shaken.
