Police have been left puzzled following two security breaches on consecutive days at the Borrowdale residence of Deputy Finance Minister David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa, son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In the most recent incident on June 25, an intruder, dubbed the “ghost raider” by police, left behind six cartridges – three outside Mnangagwa’s main bedroom door and three on the lawn of the double-story property on Camel Road, despite the presence of two police officers on guard, sources informed ZimLive.
The initial breach occurred on June 23 around 10 PM while Mnangagwa was watching television with his wife. Upon hearing unusual noises from the ceiling, Mnangagwa alerted police officers. They conducted a thorough search of the house and perimeter but found nothing suspicious.
Later that night, Mnangagwa called the officers again at approximately 11:50 PM, asking them to inspect the roof. It was there that officers discovered a bag containing some of Mnangagwa’s belongings, including torn documents, two Apple MacBook laptops, and a MacBook iPad, all apparently deliberately damaged. Mnangagwa reported that these items had been taken from his bedroom. He also noted the disappearance of his 9mm Beretta pistol with 15 live cartridges and $500 cash, which were in the bag. Additionally, the intruder had taken a loaf of bread from the kitchen and discarded it near the door.
In a final unusual act, the intruder visited the garage and vandalized the driver’s headrest of Mnangagwa’s parked Land Rover Defender.
Despite police swarming the property on June 24, including deploying a canine unit, no suspect was found, and there was no evidence of forced entry, according to sources familiar with the matter.
On June 26, just after 7:30 AM, Mnangagwa’s eight-year-old son discovered a live cartridge near his parents’ bedroom door, prompting another police response. Investigators found three cartridges inside the house and an additional three on the lawn, leading them to conclude that the cartridges inside were not present during their initial response the day before.
“These two incidents have left police baffled, as they appear to be chasing a ghost raider – someone who can enter a heavily guarded house twice and vanish without a trace,” a source said.
Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi initially indicated he was occupied and subsequently did not respond to follow-up calls.
David Mnangagwa, 35, was appointed to his current role in the ministry last September, a move criticized for nepotism given his familial ties.
In other news – ZBC seeks new leadership amid governance challenges
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), the country’s state-owned public broadcaster, is currently in search of a new Chief Executive Officer following the departure of Adelaide Chikunguru earlier this year.
Chikunguru’s exit was marred by allegations of corporate governance failures, malpractices, and corruption, which has prompted the organization to initiate a leadership transition. Read More
