How Mugabe Demanded $5m Bribe from Dangote – Report

Mahachi went to Mazoe, the heart of Grace’s business empire in Mashonaland Central, and sources said Grace made strenuous attempts to obtain Dangote’s direct contact number from her.

“When Dangote was here, he gave out business cards to government officials, but his business card does not have his direct contact number, just his e-mail. Grace tried to get his direct number,” one source said.

It is alleged that when Dangote rebuffed the request for a bribe, Zhuwao criticised the businessman’s proposed investments, saying these flouted the country’s 51% indigenisation requirements.

Zhuwao defended his stance by saying that negotiating from a position of desperation would not have resulted in profitable deals for the country.

Mahachi said this week she could not comment on Dangote’s personal communications. “He has his communication department, which you can call,” she said.

Dangote’s media team in Nigeria, however, told NewsmakersNG that the report is false.

The billionaire has revived his interest in Zimbabwe since the transfer of power to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and a team from the Dangote Group left the country this week after a 10-day tour.

They are understood to have visited Hwange to scout for coal deposits. Dangote is keen to invest in coal mining before constructing a cement factory.

In a statement, Mahachi said the team met private sector stakeholders, mining executives and Mining Minister Winston Chitando.

“This is the second visit by this technical group showing interest in investing in Zimbabwe. The new dispensation and its ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ policy has given hope for accelerating investments,” said the statement.

“The visits were most insightful and the team were pleased by what they saw and were most appreciative of the support and discussion with the mines minister.”

Dangote is no stranger to bribery claims in countries where he has business interests.

In 2014, he sued Fackson Shamenda, Zambia’s labour minister at the time, for claiming that one of Dangote’s executives had tried to bribe him.

Denying the claim, the company described the allegation as “malicious misinformation”.

In court papers, Dangote said the minister had created an impression the company was exploiting Zambian workers and had tried to entice government officials with bribes.

“The plaintiff has been brought into public scandal and its reputation has been injured,” he said. – Sunday Times (SA)