KALABA DEFENDS GOLD INVOLVEMENT

By Jessica Mwansa

THERE must be no hullabaloo about my alleged involvement in the gold scandal because I was only playing my role as a diplomat, Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba has charged.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Kalaba said the video of him being quizzed about his involvement in the gold scandal in Zimbabwe after being lured into the dragnet of those privy to the development, who, among other things, promised to give him the yet-to-be-released iPhone 15 Promax, Mr. Kalaba justified his actions saying diplomats had a lot of things to do. 

He said what was being portrayed on social media was a reflection of what diplomats did behind the scenes in trying to convince investors to invest in their countries.

“We should not cry wolf when we see a puppy. Diplomats have got a lot of work to do, so that video that has gone viral on social media about me being involved in the gold mafia is now playing down the role of diplomats.

 “The issue of the documentary that has gone viral on the gold scam in Zimbabwe concerning President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his administration and involving Ambassador Hubert Angel, I think from where I stand as a former Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Zambia from 2014 to 2018, does not amount to much because diplomats have to go beyond their call of duty to convince investors, that they have the ear of the Principal who is the President,’’ Mr. Kalaba said.

He said in order to convince investors, there is a need to go out of the way so as to have the investors convinced.

“It is not easy to convince an investor to invest in your country. Some have to throw cocktails, some have to invite people for holidays, some have to do all kinds of things to invite investors to go and invest in their own country and for a country like Zimbabwe, we have to understand it from the perspective of the sanctions that it is going through.

“Remember, we are competing for the same investor; same interests and so one has to use their ingenuity to make sure that they track their investors in their country and so there is nothing strange about what we saw behind the scenes and remember the conversation is being held behind the scenes, diplomats do all kinds of things in trying to convince the investors to go into their jurisdictions,’’ Mr. Kalaba said.

Quizzed if his diplomatic role included going out of the way to engage in illegal deals in his quest to lure investors into the country, Mr. Kalaba dodged the question but gave a scenario of Zimbabwe’s economic situation, saying the country had been going through excruciating sanctions and President Mnangagwa needed to be encouraged instead of been vilified.

“President Mnangagwa has to be encouraged, and Ambassador Hubert Angel also needs to be encouraged because his doing a lot of good for his country amidst all these challenges and he has managed to put his name to his country’s growth and economic emancipation and because of that these people need to be encouraged.

“Therefore, from where I stand there is nothing strange about that documentary, only that somebody had ulterior motives wanting to reach a certain conclusion in order to cement the argument, but truth be told that is what most diplomats do behind the scenes. However, it is important to understand the work and mission of diplomats and understand that they do all kinds of things behind the scenes to convince their investors to go to their country and as a result you find that they have to say what they should say,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate that the documentary had to go viral on social media thereby playing down the role of diplomats adding that no money was transferred anywhere.

“Behind the scenes so much is said but unfortunately we are seeing it and trying to portray that monies were going into people’s pockets and from that documentary that is going viral on social media there is no evidence to show that money was going in Ambassador Angel’s account or President Mnangagwa’s account, it was all for the country that is why the Chamber of Commerce is involved, meaning the money is the proceeds from the way the Government works, proceeds should go back to the Government coffers.

“So, my take on this is that there is no hullabaloo, we should not cry wolf when we see a puppy. Diplomats have got a lot of work and anybody who has been a diplomat will tell you that there is a lot of work in convincing an investor. I have worked in that field for five years, I have the experience. What we discuss behind the scenes remains behind the scenes but what we are seeing now is playing down the role of diplomats,” he said.