United States sanctions have begun to take a toll on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, with his Sakunda Holdings embarking on a retrenchment exercise that has seen the company operate with a skeletal staff of only 16 workers.
Tagwirei was slapped with economic sanctions last year,
accused by the US Treasury Department of “providing support to the leadership
of the Government of Zimbabwe”.
The mining and energy mogul has been accused by the US of
capturing Mnangagwa’s government and profiteering on illegal government
tenders.
Well-placed sources told NewsDay that Sakunda chief
operating officer Mberikwazvo Chitambo and head of special projects Clement
Kahiya had been victims of the exercise that has affected over hundreds of workers
employed by the diversified firm.
“The effects of the sanctions have begun to weigh on
Sakunda. The company has retrenched hundreds of workers, including some senior
executives, Chitambo and Kahiya. The company is left with only 16 employees,”
the source said.
Last year, commodities trader, Trafigura, booted out
Tagwirei by increasing its stake in Trafigura Zimbabwe to 100%, from 49% after
buying the 51% held by Tagwirei’s Sakunda, which also operated Trafigura’s Puma
Energy fuel outlets.
Early this year, international media claimed he was now
trading offshore as a way of busting the sanctions.
Tagwirei was not picking calls yesterday and did not
respond to questions sent to his mobile phone. Newsday
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