Obert Mpofu: odds-on favourite for corruption
March 22nd, 2010
A new and very up market casino has opened at the Ascot Race Course in Bulawayo.
The race course ceased to operate several years ago and the once splendid buildings and grandstands are now the homes of various businesses and restaurants.
The new casino comprises two floors of opulent decadence featuring plush red carpeting and satin lampshades!!
The downstairs area boasts rows of brightly coloured and enticing one armed bandits and the more discreet upstairs area is tastefully decorated with fringed red satin lampshades placed artfully and subtly low over several elegant baize tables.
There is also the obligatory bar with imported beers and the finest wines.
All this owned by our diamond studded minister Obert Mpofu and his brother, and while the Red Cross and World Vision rush around Zimbabwe in an effort to avert massive humanitarian starvation amidst the less fortunate Zimbabwe population, the nouveau riche and infamous will gamble the night away happily.
Scores of croupiers have been engaged to deftly deal cards on the black jack tables, and young men and women with slender fingers were seen practising their sleight of hand moves with the roulette wheels, prior to the gala opening night.
Casinos traditionally attract money and with the spate of robberies and hold ups in Bulawayo, Obert has done the wise thing and positioned two security guards day and night to protect his latest venture. The guards are both armed with rifles.
But hark, who are these guards? Are they dressed in the apparel of private security guards ?
No indeed the first cadre of security personnel were garbed in the navy and blue fatigues of the Zimbabwe Support Unit and could their rifles possibly be drawn from the government armoury? More recently the daytime security was none other than a fairly languid pair of police officers perched outside the casino.
Armed guards, courtesy of the tax-payer
To guard the ‘honest’ minister’s own private gambling empire? Surely not? Indeed, the question arises that surely the taxpayer’s money could be better spent on other things than safe-guarding the controversial minister’s private empire. One wonders if the police are also being deployed to secure the property kingdom Prince, oh sorry, Minister Mpofu is busy building with the recent purchase of properties in Victoria Fall, houses in Bulawayo’s elite suburbs and several buildings – all for cash.
Perhaps the Honourable minister will name the new casino “Nero’s Palace” after the much maligned emperor who fiddled while Rome burned?
March 22nd, 2010 13:55
Truly disgusting. Thanks for keeping us informed Sokwanele. The ongoing and unashamed profiteering by Mugabe’s cronies must be stripped bare for all Zimbabweans to see. No doubt the ‘indigenisation’ law will usher in a new era of bloodsuckers.
Keep up your good and vital work in exposing them.
March 24th, 2010 09:42
If you have a lot of cash which you can’t account for operating a casino is an EXCELLENT way to launder the money. You run the business as usual during the day. Then, after closing, you feed in your day’s illicit receipts, pretending that they’ve been received by the business.
Lets give our man Obert some credit here – he is a cunning crook. But perhaps too cunning and there may be others of his ilk who are jealous of his success. I wouldn’t be surprised if he meets one of those dangerous black dogs on the road in the not too distant future. Fingers crossed!
March 24th, 2010 20:43
for our chinese brethren do indeed love the casino….
March 27th, 2010 08:14
Still the harassment and lawlessness continues ZANU PF do not like the truth and continue to flaunt their own laws.
Gambling, spending, living it up as well while ordinary citizens suffer paying for these indulgences.
What kind of people are these?
Considering this and also some recent arrests e.g. artist Maseko and others…..
When will this cruelty and inequality stop?
When is the world going to take proper notice and actually do something positive to help the ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe be able to lead peaceful lives?
“Oh! God in your mercy make changes to help and save your people in Zimbabwe from unjust and atrocious suffering at the hands and whim of a few”.