Former Zimbabwean Minister of ex-president Robert Mugabe’s cabinet, Makhosini Hlongwane, has been arrested after allegedly failing to account for tons of beans found at his farm in the Midlands province – local media says.
The former Minister of Sports and Recreation was reportedly arrested at his farm on the outskirts of Zvishavane town.
According to sources, police found at least 10 tons of sugar beans at the former minister’s farm.
Police spokesperson for Midlands province, Inspector Ethel Mukwended, said that investigations were “underway” although the Minister had been released after recording a statement.
Further local reports said that at least eight police units raided the ex-minister’s farm in the early hours of Thursday before they arrested him.
“He [Hlongwane] was asked to produce the receipts of where he bought the sugar beans, but he said they were donated by a company which he could not divulge,” a source was quoted as saying.
During the military takeover in November, Hlongwane was among some of the ministers who fled the country. Local newspaper The Herald said that the ex-minister had quietly returned back into the country a few after the swearing in of President Mnangagwa on November 24.
The report states that Hlongwane currently remains “holed up” at his farm.
