“Persecuted Over A Woman”: Frank Buyanga Accuses Zimbabwe First Family After Three Years In SA Jail Without Trial

Frank Buyanga Fingers First Family, Claims He Is Being Persecuted Over A Woman Following 3 Years In SA Jail With No Trial

Controversial Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga has pointed the finger at Zimbabwe’s First Family, claiming his nearly three-year detention in South Africa without trial is political persecution stemming from a romantic entanglement. The flamboyant financier alleges he is being punished for his involvement with a woman linked to a son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

IOL reports that his legal team has taken the extraordinary step of approaching a South African commission of inquiry, alleging that corrupt political interference from Harare has compromised his case and kept him behind bars.

Allegations Of Political Strings And A Romantic Dispute

According to his lawyers, Buyanga’s troubles are deeply personal. They state he became a target after he was allegedly “involved with a woman” connected to one of the president’s sons. This, they argue, triggered a retaliatory campaign. His attorney stated:

“The president and his family ‘pulled strings’ to ensure he remained in custody without bail. This interference has compromised the fairness of the legal process.”

Buyanga himself asserts his detention is punishment for a romantic rivalry. He claims that the mother of his child is romantically involved with a presidential son and that he is being persecuted “for taking the woman” of the president’s son.

A Complex Legal Web Across Two Countries

Buyanga, 43, was initially charged in South Africa on 28 November 2022 with fraud and contravention of the Immigration Act. Bail was denied partly because he faces separate charges in Zimbabwe related to a bitter custody battle over his minor child. That dispute escalated in 2020 when he allegedly took the child to South Africa without the mother’s consent.

His legal filings accuse Zimbabwe’s former Prosecutor General, Kumbirai Hodzi, of misleading South African authorities by failing to clarify that Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court had declined jurisdiction over his custody appeal, not dismissed it on the merits. Buyanga’s team argues this was a deliberate omission to justify his ongoing detention.

The case grew murkier when a South African police constable was arrested for fraud and immigration violations linked to Buyanga’s documents, fuelling allegations of corruption in the process.

Health Concerns And Calls For Justice

Human rights organisations have condemned Buyanga’s prolonged detention without trial as a violation of the law. Concerns for his well-being intensified after he reportedly contracted pneumonia in custody. His lawyers warn that his continued incarceration under such conditions risks amounting to inhumane treatment.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in South Africa has acknowledged the case. According to The Star, the NPA stated:

“We will look into the matter with urgency. We believe in the rights of prisoners and that accused persons receive a fair trial. When we have all the details at our disposal we will certainly revert.”