Secret WhatsApp chats between MDC Alliance Vice President, Welshman Ncube, and former Zimbabwe Vice President, Phelekezela Mphoko, have revealed that Ncube was moving huge amounts of illegal cash on behalf of the Mphokos.
The latest revelation come as Welshman Ncube has been taken to court by the Mphokos, who are accusing him of embezzling USD1. 6 million cash that he received on their behalf when a shareholding dispute was settled with Choppies supermarket owners.
When Choppies Enterprises, which is chaired by former Botswana president Festus Mogae, expanded into Zimbabwe in 2013, it partnered with Nanavac Investments, which is owned by former Zimbabwe second vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko and his son, Siqokoqela.
After the two parties fell out, the Mphokos hired Ncube to intervene in their dispute with Mogae over the shareholding. This is when Ncube embezzled the $1.6 Million which he was paid by Choppies and did not pass on to the Mphokos.
In their court case, the Mphokos argue that since the deal’s conclusion, the former vice-president has received $517,500 (R7.7m), while his son got $730,219 (R10.8m) – leaving a balance of about $1.6m, which they claim is being held by their estranged lawyer Welshman Ncube.
Zibusiso Ncube is now the lawyer for the Mphokos in their case against Welshman Ncube.
“Despite demand, the defendant [Ncube] has failed, neglected and/or refused to pay the aforesaid balances of $832,500 [R12.3m] to the first plaintiff [Phelekezela Mphoko] and $619,708.50 [R9.2m] for the second plaintiff [Siqokoqela Mphoko],” reads the summons.
Ncube is yet to respond to the summons, which also demands that he pays “5% [interest] per annum from January 16 2019 to the date of payment in full.”
Below are WhatsApp messages between Ncube and the Mphokos.
