Henrietta Rushwaya, a person caught up in many scandals, has again avoided facing tough legal consequences. Her story shows how people with power in Zimbabwe can escape justice. Rushwaya is closely linked to Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other top leaders. Recently, she was given a light sentence for a serious crime. This is very different from how ordinary people in Zimbabwe are treated when they break the law.
Rushwaya is the President of the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation and is related to Martin Rushwaya, who works as a chief secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet. She was found guilty of smuggling gold but was only fined US$5,000 and received an 18-month prison sentence that was suspended. This means she does not have to go to jail. Her light punishment is shocking when compared to what ordinary Zimbabweans face. People like Benson Muchemanyama and Welldone Darlington Ncube were sentenced to five years in jail for having small amounts of gold without the right documents.
The difference in how these cases were handled is clear. Rushwaya, with her powerful connections, got away with a small fine, while other people like the former deputy finance minister, Terrence Mukupe, received harsher punishments. Mukupe was sentenced to three years in jail for importing diesel without paying tax. This shows that having powerful friends can make a big difference in Zimbabwe’s legal system.
Rushwaya’s case is not the only one like this. It seems that her family connections protect her from facing the full force of the law. Her uncle, President Mnangagwa, and other important people in the Zanu PF party are seen as shields that keep her safe. Her close ties to former vice-president Joseph Msika, for whom she worked as a director of sport, also show how connected she is to the country’s political elite.
When the High Court recently found Rushwaya guilty, some people thought it would show that the court system was becoming more independent. But her light sentence made many believe that nothing had really changed. This feeling grew stronger when looking at her past behavior. In the past, she was accused of fixing football matches when she was the head of the Zimbabwe Football Association. She was also involved in money laundering schemes, which were revealed in an undercover investigation by Al Jazeera.
The Al Jazeera report showed that Rushwaya was involved in smuggling gold and laundering money. She talked about using private jets to move gold out of the country and even offered to help with moving large amounts of money through Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank and its company, Fidelity Printers and Refiners.
Rushwaya’s story, from her troubled past to her recent trial, shows how power, influence, and justice work together in Zimbabwe. It makes people ask tough questions about the fairness of the country’s legal system. Is the law applied equally to everyone, or do people with connections get special treatment? As Zimbabweans continue to deal with these issues, the Rushwaya case is a clear example of the problems in the country’s fight for fairness and justice.
Her case reminds people that those in high places or with important connections often do not face the same punishments as ordinary citizens. This is a big issue in Zimbabwe, where many feel that the justice system is not fair to everyone. Rushwaya’s ability to avoid harsh punishment shows that power and connections play a huge role in the country’s legal system, leaving ordinary citizens to wonder when justice will truly be equal for all.