Pandora Papers Expose Zimbabwe Diamond Shell Company
October 06, 21
(IDEX Online) - Zimbabwe's former defense secretary set up an offshore shell company in the Seychelles to trade diamonds, according to reports on the Pandora Papers data leak.
Martin Rushwaya, who now serves as deputy chief secretary to President Emmerson Mnangagwa (pictured), is reported to to have set up Greatgem Corp. in 2010.
It was at around the time the Zimbabwe Defence Forces partnered with China's Anjin diamond company to mine diamonds in Marange, in the east of the country.
Greatgem's sole director was army colonel Grey Mashava, according to a report in the New Zimbabwe newspaper, who was subsequently promoted.
The paper also says that offshore provider Alpha Consulting Ltd, which set up Greatgem, reported the company to the Seychelles' Financial Intelligence Unit in 2012 citing concerns over the possible "corruption of the state high officials."