At a frightening pace, Zimbabwe is evolving into an enclave where laws exist only to punish the poor.
At every twist and turn, citizens are subjected to scrutiny, interrogations and compliance requirements — unless, of course, they were born with silver spoons in their jaws. Contrary to the freedoms our rulers promised when they waged war to end colonialism, and contrary to the promises made in November 2017, they have tightened their grip on the have-nots, multiplying inequality and deepening harsh rule with each passing year.
Carry a few thousand dollars across a border and you are bombarded with a barrage of questions. Fail to satisfy a regulatory requirement and the state quickly swings into action. Yet, in full public view, fortunes are exchanged, luxury assets are acquired and vast wealth is displayed without anyone demanding answers about its origins.
This is fast becoming a national concern.
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) itself acknowledged to this newspaper last week that Zimbabwe’s vehicle dealerships have emerged as a flashpoint of unrestrained money laundering. Billions of dollars are flowing through the inner compartments of that sector. Dealerships are now an attractive conduits for illicit financial flows.
The significance of that admission cannot be overstated.
Luxury vehicles are a preferred symbol of influence and status in Zimbabwe. Fleets of top-end vehicles appear with astonishing frequency. Exclusive properties continue to change hands, while mansions rise behind towering walls. The wealthy flaunt lifestyles that would be difficult to sustain even in some of the world’s most prosperous economies.
Yet very few questions are asked, and fewer still are answered.
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What makes the situation particularly troubling is that much of this activity takes place in broad daylight.
As the FIU itself noted, vehicle dealers conduct transactions largely in cash. Some operators function with inadequate oversight and weak compliance systems. In any jurisdiction serious about combating financial crime, such findings would trigger immediate and aggressive intervention.
Instead, Zimbabweans are now accustomed to a system where suspicion stops where influence begins.
The FIU deserves credit for recognising the dangers ahead. But identifying a problem is only the first step.
Zimbabwe already has an extensive network of institutions mandated to combat corruption, money laundering and illicit financial flows. They must move beyond expressions of concern and take action.
If they have the authority to investigate, they must investigate, and if they have the capacity to recover proceeds of crime, they must demonstrate it.
Anything less risks reinforcing a growing public belief that some people are simply beyond the reach of the law.
That perception is perhaps the greatest threat of all.
A nation cannot function when citizens believe justice is determined not by facts, but by status. It cannot sustain confidence in public institutions when the rules appear to apply differently depending on one’s political connections, economic influence or proximity to power.
Zimbabweans are increasingly asking why the state can mobilise extraordinary energy when dealing with ordinary citizens, yet appears hesitant when confronted with displays of immense and unexplained wealth.
Why are some transactions subjected to microscopic scrutiny while others pass without challenge? The tragedy is that this is not merely a law-enforcement issue.
Every dollar lost through illicit financial flows is a dollar unavailable for hospitals, schools, roads and productive investment. And every act of impunity deepens inequality and widens the gulf between the privileged few and the struggling majority.
Zimbabwe cannot continue to operate as a republic of untouchables.
The FIU’s intervention in the vehicle dealership sector is welcome, but warnings and reports alone will not restore public confidence or deter financial crimes. What Zimbabweans need is evidence that institutions can act independently and that accountability is not reserved for the weak.
Until then, every luxury vehicle acquired without explanation, and every mansion purchased without scrutiny reinforce the message that Zimbabwe is becoming a republic where some citizens are governed by laws, while others are governed by none.
