Controversial British Ambassador Caught Up In Zimbabwe Corruption Storm

Catriona Laing, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, is alleged to have paid a substantial amount of money to jailed Zimbabwe Minister Prisca Mupfumira according to a report from The Sun.

A Zimbabwean MP has accused Laing of paying the Prisca Mupfumira a huge sum of money so that she could flout adoption rules and procedures. The adoption is now part of the corruption investigation that has led to Mupfumira jailed as investigators dig deep into abuses of office that led to Zimbabwe's state owned pension fund losing  $95 million.

Ms Laing adopted a daughter from children’s home in 2017 when she was ambassador to Zimbabwe.

The minor left Zimbabwe with Laing when was reassigned as ambassador to Nigeria last year after her controversial stay in Zimbabwe. 

According to reports, social services has been set to investigate the case as Anya's family is said to want her back. The whistle was blown by one of Zimbabwe's member of parliament.

Laing’s spokesman told The Sun: ‘These allegations are categorically untrue. All the proper legal processes were followed and no money was paid.’

The spokesman added that, "There’s no question of Anya being returned to Zimbabwe — this is political mischief-making.”

Laing is not new to political infighting in the country as she was recently accused of warming up to Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa. Her critics blasted her for wearing the famous scarf that the President wears around on official business.

She Tweeted that the scarf was a "Christmas present from the designer and that she "had it long before anyone else".

Laing said she was not supporting anyone other than a better future for Zimbabwe.

However, her four year stay saw a dramatic shift in the former colonial master's policy in Zimbabwe. The British ditched their former support of opposition political parties for a more public engagement efforts with the ZANU-PF led government. 

Header Image Credits: AllinZimbabwe.com