Zimbabwe’s recently appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Raj Modi has pledged to donate his government salary to charity but he could be in trouble soon as he is allegedly involved in illegal foreign currency trading.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa today said illegal trading in foreign currency is a serious security threat and must be dealt with.
Modi, the only Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Member of Parliament in Bulawayo, said he is going to donate his entire government salary to charity in Bulawayo but this will not be restricted to his constituency, Bulawayo South.
“I am a successful businessman because of the people of Bulawayo,” he told the Sunday Mail. “I am a Member of Parliament because of the people of Bulawayo and I was appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce because I am a Member of Parliament, so I am a Minister because of the people of Bulawayo.
“While I can thank them all through words, I am compelled to show my gratitude by helping the under-privileged in our city. Therefore, I am making an undertaking to donate my entire salary every month to the needy. I will not touch or use a cent from that money. It will go to the poor, especially the children whom I love so much. I will also give to women, orphans, the elderly and people living with disabilities…
“However, I must hastily add that I am not going to help the people of Bulawayo South only but the people of Bulawayo, the city. I don’t care where you are from; if I have the opportunity to assist you, I will assist you. I know what it feels like to be poor. I have the emotional intelligence and the empathy that enables me to walk in the shoes of the underprivileged.”
Modi’s good gesture could soon be scuttled as whispers say he is allegedly involved in illegal foreign currency trading.
In his first weekly column in the Sunday Mail today Mnangagwa said the illegal trading in foreign currency was one of the greatest threat to his administration’s bid to stimulate the production in the economy.
“A great threat to our bid to stimulate productive activity in the economy comes by way of non-productive, speculative activities operating below the radar but involving millions in precious foreign currency and bond notes.” Mnangagwa wrote.
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