Businessmen who have been accused by the US Treasury of financially supporting
the Mugabe regime are operating freely in Britain, in spite of Gordon
Brown's declaration that “enough is enough” in Zimbabwe.
Of 21 companies put on a US blacklist by President Bush last month, 14 are
based in Britain, two in the Isle of Man, one in Jersey and one in the
British Virgin Islands. The other three are based in the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Florida and Zimbabwe itself.
Top of the list of alleged Mugabe cronies now under sanction by the US
Treasury is the British-based businessman John Bredenkamp.
Mr Mugabe and his henchmen use a number of ploys to stay in power and live in
luxury as their countrymen suffer. In this they are said to receive the help
of white businessmen, several with British passports, and a number of
London-based companies. The foreign currency that these men bring into the
country allows top Zanu (PF) figures to buy hard currency at the official
rate - way below the currency's true worth - and earn small fortunes.
“They basically buy real money with worthless Zimbabwean dollars. That way
they can buy a car for what an ordinary person would use to fill a tank with
petrol,” an insider said.
The operations of some British or British-owned companies have also caused
concern. It was reported this year that Foreign Office officials were
worried that the Zimbabwean subsidiary of the London-based Standard
Chartered Bank was violating European Union sanctions. According to inside
sources, the Foreign Office asked the Treasury to make “discreet inquiries”
as to whether Standard Chartered loans to the Zimbabwean Government breached
the sanctions.
Standard Chartered Zimbabwe is a subsidiary of Standard Chartered Plc of
Britain. A Foreign Office official was quoted as saying: “I'm still nervous
about the position of other [British-owned] banks [in Zimbabwe], and in
particular Standard Chartered.”
Britain has failed to take action against individuals and companies while
calling for Mr Mugabe to go. By contrast, the US Treasury last month named
four financier “cronies” - Mr Bredenkamp, Muller Conrad “Billy” Rautenbach,
Nalinee Joy Taveesin and Mahmood Awang Kechik - of Mr Mugabe and put them on
a blacklist, freezing their US assets and banning American citizens from
doing business with them.
The list, issued by America's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), was
rounded off by the 21, mainly British-based, businesses.
“The financial and logistical support they have provided to the regime has
enabled Robert Mugabe to pursue policies that seriously undermine democratic
processes and institutions in Zimbabwe,” the US Treasury said.
Mr Bredenkamp has been granted indefinite leave to remain in Britain, and
operates some of his businesses from an office in Berkshire.
Mr Bredenkamp, 68, was born in Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, and is one of
the coterie of “Rhodies”, or white Rhodesians with British connections,
whose influence has grown under Mr Mugabe. The US Treasury calls him “a
well-known Mugabe insider involved in various business activities, including
tobacco trading, grey-market arms trading and trafficking, equity
investments, oil distribution, tourism, sports management, and diamond
extraction”.
Mr Bredenkamp's spokesman issued a point-by-point denial, saying: “Breco [a
company he controls] does not trade in tobacco. At 'free' auctions, it
purchases tobacco from the producers and adds value through cigarette
manufacturing. Mr Bredenkamp is a passive investor in ACS, an accredited
agent to major Western defence and aerospace companies who are regulated by
their own governments. ACS does not operate, therefore, in the grey market.
“Alongside the likes of Shell and BP, who have major networks of petrol retail
outlets in Zimbabwe, Breco supplies petroleum products, purchased from the
State Oil Company by law, to a mere five retail outlets. It also has a small
bulk fuel distribution business whose clients include Unicef.
“Mr Bredenkamp has never been involved in the exploration or extraction of
diamonds.”
In 1993 Mr Bredenkamp made an estimated $100 million selling his Casalee
tobacco company, and set up Breco, a private equity group now on the US
blacklist. His spokesman said: “Mr Bredenkamp recently received notification
from the US Treasury that he was on the OFAC list. He wishes to make it
clear that he is challenging that decision on the grounds that it is based
on erroneous information.”
Mr Bredenkamp strongly disputes any suggestion he gives the regime funds to
help Mr Mugabe to cling to power. His spokesman said: “Just because he is a
Zimbabwean and is based in Zimbabwe and has a business in Zimbabwe does not
mean he provides the Zanu (PF) regime with funds. He employs around 1,500
people in his businesses in Zimbabwe - their remuneration supports
approximately 6,000 people. Is he meant to quit and put all these people out
of work?”
The former England spin bowler Phil Edmonds is chairman of the Central African
Mining and Exploration Company (CAMEC), of which the blacklisted Mr
Rautenbach is a shareholder. CAMEC announced its acquisition of an interest
in platinum assets in Zimbabwe in April. As a result, CAMEC inherited an
agreement between Lefever, the company it acquired, to lend $100 million to
the Zimbabwean Government as an advance against future dividends.
“CAMEC is conscious of its responsibility to protect the welfare of its
employees in Zimbawe,” the company told The Times, “and has invested
considerable sums in housing, education and medical projects, not to mention
long-term employment opportunities.” It said it had delayed bringing its
platinum project into production “until the political situation is
stabilised and the platinum price recovers”.
The banks Barclays and Standard Chartered, listed on the London Stock
Exchange, have faced criticism over their subsidiaries operating bank
accounts for Mr Mugabe's close aides. To do so is not illegal, but critics
question the morality of it.
Standard Chartered said: “We have a long-term commitment to the welfare of our
860 staff, their extended families who depend on them and for our many
thousands of customers who rely on our services. Standard Chartered Group
makes no money in Zimbabwe. We comply with all US, UK and EU sanctions. We
have been consistently clear on the morality of keeping our operation open.
It's quite clearly morally the right thing to do.”
Barclays said: “Barclays Bank Zimbabwe is not opening branches and, in fact,
Barclays is not making any new investment in Zimbabwe. Revenue generated in
the country is used only to maintain day-to-day operations, pay staff and
keep the bank running ... Barclays is fully compliant with EU sanctions
relating to Zimbabwe.”
Neither Standard Chartered nor Barclays have been blacklisted by the US
Treasury.
A fortnight ago Mr Brown launched his toughest attack on Zimbabwe. “We must
stand together to defend human rights and democracy, to say firmly to Mugabe
that enough is enough,” he said. However, Britain's sanctions regime against
Zimbabwe is much narrower in scope than America's. It consists largely of
Zimbabwean politicians and public figures, none with any serious stake in
the British economy.
Asked what action Britain would take against Mr Bredenkamp, a spokesman for HM
Treasury told The Times: “We are considering a range of measures with EU
partners in response to the continuing impasse in Zimbabwe, including
further targeted measures. Announcing these prematurely would be
ineffective.”
Additional reporting: Jan Raath
On the US blacklist
John Bredenkamp “A close ally of Mugabe’s”, according to the US
Treasury. It lists the following entities, owned or controlled by him: Alpha
International (Private) Ltd; Breco (Asia Pacific) Ltd, also Breco (Eastern
Europe) Ltd, (SA) Ltd, (UK) Ltd, Breco Group, Breco International, Breco
Nominees Ltd, Breco Services Ltd; Corybantes Ltd; Echo Delta Holdings Ltd;
Kababankola Mining Company; Masters Int Ltd; Masters Int Inc; Piedmont (UK)
Ltd; Raceview Enterprises; Scottlee Holdings (Pvt) Ltd; Scottlee Resorts;
Timpani Ltd; and Tremalt Ltd
Muller Conrad Rautenbach (aka Billy Rautenback) Zimbabwean businessman
“with close ties to the regime”. Supported Zanu (PF) individuals during the
conflict with the Democratic Republic of Congo and “provided logistical
support” for mining projects that “benefit a small number of corrupt senior
officials”. One entity designated is owned by him — Ridgepoint Overseas
Developments Ltd
Nalinee Taveesin A Thai businesswoman who has organised “a number of
financial, real-estate and gem-related transactions” for Grace Mugabe and
others on the US blacklist
Mahmood Awang Kechik A Malaysian urologist. Alleged to have used his
clinic to hide the destination of medical equipment coming into the country.
Also implicated in schemes to “generate wealth for these regime officials”
and the Zimbabwe Government”
Source: US Treasury Department
Not tribal, Rwanda Congo x 4 Matabeleland Biafra Kenya all tribal conflicts the African is still Medieval theres no strong middle class to bring structure and future foresight which is what is needed to reform the African mind set from tribal loyalty to national loyalty and hence stability
peter , raintree, australia
Its 1965, you're Ian Smith, you look into the future of your country, Rhodesia, and what do you see. What you've got.
alan, worcs, uk
James, London
Zimbabwe's problems are not tribal. That may be a local device but the much bigger issue is an international one with all sorts of rogue-states and gangsters involved. There are many poor nations with open back doors, their despotic regimes kept going by foreign money and interests
James, Beckton, UK.
This theory that Africa's problems are tribal is a misconception of most people whose view of Africa is based on images in the western media. While there is no denying that there a lot of rogue leaders in Africa this does not justify giving up on change and what it could bring to the pple of Africa.
Gabriel Gidi, Wolverhampton, UK
People should realise that Africa's problems are tribal. You remove a leader - the others will behave in exactly the same way if they get the chance. They will have to sort out their own problems as we cannot do it for them. We are from another tribe called Europeans. Not that we are better - WW1?
James, London, UK
I can say no more than has been said already - illegal money to fund a grand life style while thousands starve and die.This is thanks to a genocidal regime which the rest of the so-called civilised world is polically gutless to bring down.
Do UK authorities know about these blacklisted men????
Rodney S. Barker, Gainsborough, England UK
Yet again, the vilified Bush president has more guts and moral fiber than our 'I don' care prime minister'.
Shame on Labour , shame on the party and its people that support regimes like the one in Zimbawe while talking tough language.
Wake up Britain !, we are ruled by inferior politicians.
John Zen, London, UK
Everyone hides behind the "morality" flag when profits are on the line. How good are the banks? Why don't they bring the families out, and to a better life, or are they "looked after" as well. We may never know. God, Zimbabwe is depressing.
Mike , Buderim Queensland, Australia
Not surprising. The UK is useless at convicting bad guys. I guess the US could go for proceedings against these 'entrepreneurs' cos we can't tell a thief from a Samaritan. I just hate that they see money more important than cholera, torture, murder and denial of the most basic human rights.
John Christopher, Washington, US