Rushwaya distances herself, ZMF from arrested smuggler
Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya has distanced herself and the ZMF from Tashinga Nyasha Masinire who has made headlines after being arrested for possession of smuggled gold worth R11 million (equivalent to US$782 636.85) at OR Tambo Airport in South Africa.
Social Media and online news outlets were awash with articles stating Masinire is Zimbabwe Miners Federation President Henrietta Rushwaya’s aide and driver.
Mining Zimbabwe reached out to Rushwaya who said Masinire ceased to be in the employ of ZMF after tendering in his resignation on the 28th of August 2020.
“For the record Tashinga Masinire stopped working for the ZMF as a driver in August in 2020 and for people to be seen now wanting to associate him with Zimbabwe Miners Federation or myself, in particular, is a bit unfortunate”.
“He tendered in his resignation and it will be folly for people to want to attach him to this organisation or to my persona as the President of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation”.
“As the Zimbabwe Miners Federation President I clearly and categorically state that Tashinga Masinire was no longer an employee or ZMF neither was he still my driver and any action taken against him should not be in any way associated with us,” Rushwaya concluded.
Masinire was arrested on Saturday for smuggling gold valued at R11 million (equivalent to US$782 636.85) at OR Tambo airport in South Africa. He was granted R100,000 bail early today by a Kempton Park Regional Court in that country.
He is facing charges of contravening the South African Customs Act 91 of 1964 and Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005.