are based in Britain, two in the Isle of Man, one in Jersey and one in
the British Virgin Islands. The other three are based in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Florida and Zimbabwe itself.
Top of the list of alleged Mugabe cronies now under sanction by the US
Treasury is the British-based businessman John Bredenkamp.
Mr Mugabe and his henchmen use a number of ploys to stay in power and
live in luxury as their countrymen suffer. In this they are said to
receive the help of white businessmen, several with British passports,
and a number of London-based companies. The foreign currency that these
men bring into the country allows top Zanu (PF) figures to buy hard
currency at the official rate – way below the currency’s true worth –
and earn small fortunes.
They basically buy real money with worthless Zimbabwean dollars. That
way they can buy a car for what an ordinary person would use to fill a
tank with petrol, an insider said.
The operations of some British or British-owned companies have also
caused concern. It was reported this year that Foreign Office officials
were worried that the Zimbabwean subsidiary of the London-based
Standard Chartered Bank was violating European Union sanctions.
According to inside sources, the Foreign Office asked the Treasury to
make discreet inquiries as to whether Standard Chartered loans to the
Zimbabwean Government breached the sanctions.
Standard Chartered Zimbabwe is a subsidiary of Standard Chartered Plc
of Britain. A Foreign Office official was quoted as saying: I’m still
nervous about the position of other [British-owned] banks [in
Zimbabwe], and in particular Standard Chartered.
Britain has failed to take action against individuals and companies
while calling for Mr Mugabe to go. By contrast, the US Treasury last
month named four financier cronies – Mr Bredenkamp, Muller Conrad
Billy Rautenbach, Nalinee Joy Taveesin and Mahmood Awang Kechik – of
Mr Mugabe and put them on a blacklist, freezing their US assets and
banning American citizens from doing business with them.
The list, issued by America’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC),
was rounded off by the 21, mainly British-based, businesses.
The financial and logistical support they have provided to the regime
has enabled Robert Mugabe to pursue policies that seriously undermine
democratic processes and institutions in Zimbabwe, the US Treasury
said.
Mr Bredenkamp has been granted indefinite leave to remain in Britain,
and operates some of his businesses from an office in Berkshire.
Mr Bredenkamp, 68, was born in Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, and is
one of the coterie of Rhodies, or white Rhodesians with British
connections, whose influence has grown under Mr Mugabe. The US Treasury
calls him a well-known Mugabe insider involved in various business
activities, including tobacco trading, grey-market arms trading and
trafficking, equity investments, oil distribution, tourism, sports
management, and diamond extraction.
Mr Bredenkamp’s spokesman issued a point-by-point denial, saying:
Breco [a company he controls] does not trade in tobacco. At ‘free’
auctions, it purchases tobacco from the producers and adds value
through cigarette manufacturing. Mr Bredenkamp is a passive investor in
ACS, an accredited agent to major Western defence and aerospace
companies who are regulated by their own governments. ACS does not
operate, therefore, in the grey market.
Alongside the likes of Shell and BP, who have major networks of petrol
retail outlets in Zimbabwe, Breco supplies petroleum products,
purchased from the State Oil Company by law, to a mere five retail
outlets. It also has a small bulk fuel distribution business whose
clients include Unicef.
Mr Bredenkamp has never been involved in the exploration or extraction of diamonds.
In 1993 Mr Bredenkamp made an estimated $100 million selling his
Casalee tobacco company, and set up Breco, a private equity group now
on the US blacklist. His spokesman said: Mr Bredenkamp recently
received notification from the US Treasury that he was on the OFAC
list. He wishes to make it clear that he is challenging that decision
on the grounds that it is based on erroneous information.
Mr Bredenkamp strongly disputes any suggestion he gives the regime
funds to help Mr Mugabe to cling to power. His spokesman said: Just
because he is a Zimbabwean and is based in Zimbabwe and has a business
in Zimbabwe does not mean he provides the Zanu (PF) regime with funds.
He employs around 1,500 people in his businesses in Zimbabwe – their
remuneration supports approximately 6,000 people. Is he meant to quit
and put all these people out of work?
The former England spin bowler Phil Edmonds is chairman of the Central
African Mining and Exploration Company (CAMEC), of which the
blacklisted Mr Rautenbach is a shareholder. CAMEC announced its
acquisition of an interest in platinum assets in Zimbabwe in April. As
a result, CAMEC inherited an agreement between Lefever, the company it
acquired, to lend $100 million to the Zimbabwean Government as an
advance against future dividends.
CAMEC is conscious of its responsibility to protect the welfare of its
employees in Zimbawe, the company told The Times, and has invested
considerable sums in housing, education and medical projects, not to
mention long-term employment opportunities. It said it had delayed
bringing its platinum project into production until the political
situation is stabilised and the platinum price recovers.
The banks Barclays and Standard Chartered, listed on the London Stock
Exchange, have faced criticism over their subsidiaries operating bank
accounts for Mr Mugabe’s close aides. To do so is not illegal, but
critics question the morality of it.
Standard Chartered said: We have a long-term commitment to the welfare
of our 860 staff, their extended families who depend on them and for
our many thousands of customers who rely on our services. Standard
Chartered Group makes no money in Zimbabwe. We comply with all US, UK
and EU sanctions. We have been consistently clear on the morality of
keeping our operation open. It’s quite clearly morally the right thing
to do.
Barclays said: Barclays Bank Zimbabwe is not opening branches and, in
fact, Barclays is not making any new investment in Zimbabwe. Revenue
generated in the country is used only to maintain day-to-day
operations, pay staff and keep the bank running … Barclays is fully
compliant with EU sanctions relating to Zimbabwe.
Neither Standard Chartered nor Barclays have been blacklisted by the US Treasury.
A fortnight ago Mr Brown launched his toughest attack on Zimbabwe. We
must stand together to defend human rights and democracy, to say firmly
to Mugabe that enough is enough, he said. However, Britain’s sanctions
regime against Zimbabwe is much narrower in scope than America’s. It
consists largely of Zimbabwean politicians and public figures, none
with any serious stake in the British economy.
Asked what action Britain would take against Mr Bredenkamp, a spokesman
for HM Treasury told The Times: We are considering a range of measures
with EU partners in response to the continuing impasse in Zimbabwe,
including further targeted measures. Announcing these prematurely would
be ineffective.
Additional reporting: Jan Raath
On the US blacklist
John Bredenkamp A close ally of Mugabe's, according to the US
Treasury. It lists the following entities, owned or controlled by him:
Alpha International (Private) Ltd; Breco (Asia Pacific) Ltd, also Breco
(Eastern Europe) Ltd, (SA) Ltd, (UK) Ltd, Breco Group, Breco
International, Breco Nominees Ltd, Breco Services Ltd; Corybantes Ltd;
Echo Delta Holdings Ltd; Kababankola Mining Company; Masters Int Ltd;
Masters Int Inc; Piedmont (UK) Ltd; Raceview Enterprises; Scottlee
Holdings (Pvt) Ltd; Scottlee Resorts; Timpani Ltd; and Tremalt Ltd
Muller Conrad Rautenbach (aka Billy Rautenback) Zimbabwean businessman
with close ties to the regime. Supported Zanu (PF) individuals during
the conflict with the Democratic Republic of Congo and provided
logistical support for mining projects that benefit a small number of
corrupt senior officials. One entity designated is owned by him â€â€
Ridgepoint Overseas Developments Ltd
Nalinee Taveesin A Thai businesswoman who has organised a number of
financial, real-estate and gem-related transactions for Grace Mugabe
and others on the US blacklist
Mahmood Awang Kechik A Malaysian urologist. Alleged to have used his
clinic to hide the destination of medical equipment coming into the
country. Also implicated in schemes to generate wealth for these
regime officials and the Zimbabwe Government
Source: US Treasury Department