THE case in which relatives of former President Robert Mugabe allegedly stole UD$150 000 cash from his rural home in Zvimba has taken a shocking twist, with Mr. Mugabe claiming his relatives actually stole close to US$1 million cash.

This came to light yesterday when Mugabe, through his lawyers, updated the court papers to reflect that he actually lost US$922,000 cash which was in a briefcase at his rural mansion.

The prosecution led by Mrs Kessia Teveraishe alleges that in 2016, Mugabe packed books in four briefcases. He took them to his library at his homestead in Zvimba.

Mugabe included a black polo briefcase containing US$1 million. He gave his house keeper Constance the briefcase for safekeeping.

Mugabe, the court heard, did not tell her what the briefcase contained.

On March 1, 2018, Mugabe demanded the briefcase from Constance.

She allegedly professed ignorance about its whereabouts but promised to look for it.

Mugabe later ordered one of his employees, Edson Jemwa, who is the group human resources manager at Gushungo Holdings, to look for the briefcase on January 6 this year. He had received news on how the suspects were living luxuriously.

Jemwa went to Mugabe’s homestead in Zvimba, according to the State, where Constance led him to the recovery of one Amiet briefcase and another Blue Deisey Club briefcase at the former President’s summer house.

The Black Polo Club briefcase was recovered from Mugabe’s main bedroom. A police report was made and the suspects were arrested.

The bags were taken to Mugabe’s home in Harare without verifying the contents with the suspects or the police.

Mugabe, who was in Dubai, reportedly identified the Black Polo Club bag as the one which went missing when he returned to Harare.

He discovered the bag now had US$78 000 instead of US$1m. The four were arrested.

During investigations, police discovered that Mapurisa, who was employed as a caretaker, bought a house for US$20 000 at Murombedzi Growth Point. He registered it in the name of his wife, Noticia Sibindi.

He also bought a Toyota Camry for US$6 800.

The vehicle was recovered by the police.

Nheketwa, another caretaker, allegedly bought a Honda Fit. It was also recovered.

The court also heard that Muhumbe, employed as a groundsman, bought a Honda CRV and registered it in his brother, Emmanuel’s name.

The vehicle was also recovered. Police also recovered US$42 800 from the suspects.

The suspects are out on $2,000 bail each.

The suspects – Constancia Mugabe (50), Johanne Mapurisa (50) and Saymore Nhetekwa (47), appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze yesterday facing theft charges.