FORMER United States congressman Mel Reynolds, who had links
with top government ministers in President Robert Mugabe’s government, was last
Thursday convicted by a federal judge on misdemeanour charges that he failed to
file income tax returns for four years despite earning hundreds of thousands of
dollars of income, some of the money from Harare.
Reynolds visited Zimbabwe in 2014 and was reportedly feted
by government officials such as Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo and his
Tourism counterpart, Walter Mzembi.
A Democrat from Chicago, who served in the House from 1993
to 1995, representing himself in court, said the money was paid to him for
expenses and that he did not need to report to the Internal Revenue Service.
This was after he did not file tax returns from 2009 to 2012 and could face up
to a $1 million fine in addition to a prison term.
Assistant US Attorney Georgia Alexakis said Reynolds made
$52 600 from Wilson and $371 000 from Chicago developer Elzie Higginbottom as
he tried to arrange business deals for them involving medical supplies in
Zimbabwe.
He dragged Mugabe’s name into his trial, claiming
Higginbottom had paid the Zimbabwean leader $100 000 in bribe money to get
business favours, an allegation which was denied.
Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba last week distanced
his boss from Reynolds describing him as a disgraced convict whose evidence
should not be taken seriously.
“I cannot dignify allegations made against the President by
a convicted felon. You are asking me to put the President on trial by
commenting on a matter that is sub judice. This matter is before the courts
and, therefore, I will not be drawn into commenting,” Charamba said.
Reynolds’ short stay in Zimbabwe was marred by an arrest on
allegations of possessing pornographic material.
However, the charge was thrown out by the courts, but the
former US representative was convicted for staying in the country on an expired
permit. Newsday
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