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Nduduzo Tshuma Bulawayo Bureau
The list of people who heeded the call to return externalised funds and assets is long and the figures will be revealed in due course, President Mnangagwa has said.

This follows the expiry of the three-month moratorium for the repatriation yesterday.

The President said he will today meet Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Magudya to assess progress made.

In an interview at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare on arrival from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) yesterday, the President said after his meeting with Dr Mangudya, he will announce what will be done to those who failed to heed the amnesty.

“I have looked (at the list) twice, some patriotic comrades who have repatriated their funds back, the list is too long, the figure will be announced when the final position is arrived at,” he said.

“I will be having a meeting with the Governor of the Reserve Bank tomorrow (today) to look at the progress that has been made, to look also at the lack of progress that has been made, then we make a decision after that meeting.”

President Mnangagwa said in the last two briefings with Dr Mangudya, he was looking at the amounts that had been repatriated.

Announcing the grace period last year, the President said Operation Restore Legacy, which was launched by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) in November last year, unearthed serious economic crimes.

The President said those who would fail to return the loot within the stipulated period faced prosecution.

“Activities linked to the Operation Restore Legacy have, among other issues, helped to uncover cases where huge amounts of money and other assets were illegally externalised by certain individuals and corporates,” he said.

“Needless to say, such malpractice constitutes a serious economic crime against the people of Zimbabwe which the Government of Zimbabwe will never condone.”

Addressing delegates during the Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress in Harare in December, the President said he had knowledge of those who had externalised funds.

“I didn’t say that without knowledge,” he said. “I have a list of who took money out. So, in March when the period expires, those who would not have heeded to my moratorium I will name them and shame them.”

President Mnangagwa warned that those who failed to heed his call will be arrested and prosecuted.