Zimbabwe to seize fugitive bankers' farms

Zimbabwe to seize fugitive bankers' farms

• Fugitive NMB bosses ready to sing

• Stanbic eyes National Merchant Bank

• Whistle blower demands $30 billion

• Mawere, NMB bosses assets frozen

• Mawere freed by South Africa court

• Mawere is South Africa citizen

• Mawere gets R50 000 bail

• Mawere arrested by Interpol in SA

• ENG directors charged with fraud

• Banks face collapse

By Agency

THE Zimbabwe government plans to seize farms belonging to bankers who fled the country last year after being accused of mishandling foreign currency.

According to a notice published in the state-controlled Herald newspaper on Tuesday, the state will seize nine farms from directors of the National Merchant Bank and Intermarket Holdings.

Some of the directors -- among them prominent banker Julius Makoni -- fled to the United Kingdom, denying any wrongdoing but fearing retribution from President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party.

Meanwhile, Mugabe said he will "leave no stone unturned" in his efforts to extradite suspects wanted "in connection with corruption" by police.

Zimbabwe's police are accused of being fiercely loyal to the ruling party.

"Criminals are criminals. We will be charging that Britain is keeping criminals. Does that augur well for Britain?" Mugabe said.

The president, embroiled in a long-running dispute with Zimbabwe's former colonial power, said he is investigating foreign bank accounts in an effort to repatriate the money.

He said he will ask Interpol, the international police agency, to assist his government to return "fugitives" to face justice.

None of the bankers who will lose their farms this week have been charged with criminal activity. -- Sapa
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