Zimbabwean Mugabe a lost $ 1 million in a stolen briefcase & # 39;

Nearly $ 1 million (£ 914,000) in cash was stolen from a briefcase owned by former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, reports the Herald newspaper.

Earlier this month, three people appeared in court, accused of stealing a suitcase containing $ 150,000.

But according to the "updated court documents" seen by the Herald, Mugabe said he lost a lot more.

Mugabe, now 94, was forced to step down by the Zimbabwean army in 2017.

Until then, he had been in power for 37 years, first as prime minister, then as president.

Previously, famously claiming that a country could never go bankrupt, he was accused of having a lavish lifestyle while presiding over Zimbabwe's economic collapse.

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• The country where food costs three times your salary

The details of the case come at a time when Zimbabwe's economy has seen some food prices nearly double over the past week alone.

A violent crackdown on protesters angry at the high cost of living in Zimbabwe forced President Emmerson Mnangagwa to shorten a trip to Europe.

Where is the money?

The judicial proceedings are ongoing, but according to the chronological calendar of events taken from court documents published in the Herald, Mr. Mugabe took the money in his black briefcase to Zvimba in a black briefcase while he was President in 2016.

Once there, he allegedly gave the suitcase to Constance Mugabe, a member of her family who was also a cleaning lady, for security purposes.

The other suspects were employed as cleaners at the time of the flight, which would have occurred between December 1, 2018 and the beginning of January 2019.

• Profile: Robert Mugabe, former President of Zimbabwe

In March of last year, four months after being forced to leave his post by the army, he reportedly asked for the briefcase, but Constance Mugabe reportedly said he did not know where he was.

Mr. Mugabe would later have asked other staff members to look for him – and that is when he was found, but with only US $ 78,000 at his disposal. Inside, reports the Herald.

The alleged thieves reportedly spent the money on cars, homes and animals.

"Johanne Mapurisa bought a Toyota Camry … and a house for $ 20,000 after the incident," said Teveraishe Zinyemba, a public prosecutor at the Chinhoyi Court of Justice.

"Saymore Nhetekwa also bought a Honda … and cattle including pigs and cattle for an undisclosed amount."

Since his retirement, Mugabe has had difficulty walking and has spent several months in Singapore seeking treatment.

It is unclear when he was at home during the flight.