Ex-President Robert Mugabe is reportedly worth more
than $1bn despite his country being one of the poorest in the world.
Mugabe’s wealth has come under the microscope
following a military coup earlier in the week.
The 93-year-old dictator has accumulated significant
wealth during his rule under which thousands of people have been killed over
the past 37 years.
Local media reports suggest a small part of his
fortune was reaped from Zimbabwe’s diamond deposits. Mugabe owns the Zimbabwe
Consolidated Diamond Co.
He has repeatedly been accused of stealing from the
country’s coffers, while he also reportedly acquired 15 acres of land during
land seizures in 2000.
According to a 2001 US diplomatic cable, later
released by the whistle-blowing
organisation WikiLeaks, Mugabe has about
$1.75bn worth of assets, mostly invested outside Zimbabwe.
It said that while reliable information was
difficult to find, there were rumours his assets “include everything from
secret accounts in Switzerland, the Channel Islands and the Bahamas to castles
in Scotland.”
Opposition politicians have claimed the Mugabes own
14 farms in the bankrupt country, which would be in contravention of the
constitution, which limits land holdings.
The best known is the Omega Dairy farm, one of the
largest dairy farms in southern Africa.
Although the family has claimed not to be wealthy,
Mugabe has flaunted his wealth in the past. Just three years ago, he
famously dined on elephant and lion meat at his lavish 90th birthday
celebrations.
Mugabe’s home in Harare is said to be
extraordinarily opulent but it’s not the only mansion in his property
portfolio. The president purchased a $5.2m mansion in Hong Kong in 2013
and also owns Hamilton Palace in Sussex, UK, which was estimated to be worth
about $40m before it became a construction site.
He is also said to own a custom-built Mercedes Benz
s600L that is able to withstand AK-47 bullets, landmines and grenades. It also
features a CD and DVD player, internet access and anti-bugging devices.
The Citizen reported that Mugabe — who is a
trained teacher — also owns a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV: a colonial-era British
luxury car so exclusive, only 18 were ever manufactured.
The vintage black car is estimated to be worth more
than Zimbabwe’s entire GDP.
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