Peta Thornycroft

Independent Foreign Service

HARARE: Zimbabwean authorities issued warrants of arrest yesterday for four South African truck drivers who failed to show up at the Harare Magistrate’s Court, six months after they were arrested for an alleged scam by first lady Grace Mugabe.

Cassimjee Bilal, Henry Radebe, Samuel Risimati Baloyi and Sydney Masilo were being held in Harare so they could stand trial with another South African, Ping Sung Hsieh, a former business partner of Grace Mugabe.

But the Zimbabwean government failed in its attempt earlier this month to extradite Ping from South Africa to Harare. Ping helped Grace Mugabe buy a $5 million (R35m) mansion in Hong Kong several years ago, but their partnership later went sour.

After the extradition attempt was turned down in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court, Harare lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, who represents the drivers, said she hoped this decision would prompt the release of the drivers.

They spent weeks in police cells after their arrest, but their detention was relaxed to allow them to live in a secure house in Harare with access to a vehicle.

Zimbabwean Attorney-General Johannes Tomana said in court papers in Harare that the drivers were arrested so that they could stand trial with Ping.

All five men were accused jointly of stealing $1 million from one of Grace Mugabe’s former aides, Olga Bungu.

Lawyers in South Africa and Zimbabwe believe Bungu is acting as a “front” in this case for President Robert Mugabe’s extravagant wife.

Grace Mugabe allegedly wanted Ping to buy a fleet of haulage vehicles for her oldest son Russell, from her first marriage. She also allegedly ordered substantial equipment for her new dairy outside Harare, which Ping claims he delivered.