Mike Tichafa Karakadzai
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore Mike Tichafa Karakadzai is a former senior officer in the military of Zimbabwe
. Europe, and more recently Australia, have frozen his assets and forbidden his travel in their territories.
Karakadzai qualified for a Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
in the United Kingdom
.
he obtained an MSc in Strategic Management from the University of Derby
.
He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies
in the United Kingdom where he obtained an MSc in Defence Strategic Studies.
He was appointed Deputy Secretary for Policy and Procurement in the Zimbabwe Ministry of Defence in 2000.
In October 2002 the United Nations
published the Final report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The report said Karakadzai had the position of Deputy Secretary of COSLEG, which the United Nations described as "a Congo-Zimbabwe joint stock company ... a key vehicle for military-backed commerce involving mostly diamonds, banking and timber in the Government-held areas". It named Karakadzai as a key player in arranging a January 2001 deal with John Bredenkamp
's Tremalt
whereby Tremalt obtained copper mining resources in the DRC at a nominal price in exchange for paying a share of proceeds to the governments of the DRC and Zimbabwe. Some of the payments were to be made in the form of military equipment.
Karakadzai was named in February 2004 by the European Union as being among Zimbabwe government members whose assets must be frozen by members and who would be barred from entry or transit by members of the union.
In December 2008 Australia added him to its list of targeted sanctions against those responsible for the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
On 1 November 2005 Karakadzai was appointed General Manager of the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
In February 2011 President Robert Mugabe
said that Karakadzai would be in charge of his reelection campaign in Harare
, at a date to be announced. Sources said this was likely to be a very violent campaign.
In May 2011 Karakadzai said that lack of credit from foreign lenders was preventing the National Railways of Zimbabwe from replacing aging equipment. He blamed this on illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the west.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. Europe, and more recently Australia, have frozen his assets and forbidden his travel in their territories.
Karakadzai qualified for a Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply is a global organisation working for the purchasing and supply professions. CIPS is the world’s largest procurement and supply professional organisation. It is the worldwide centre of excellence on purchasing and supply management issues...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
he obtained an MSc in Strategic Management from the University of Derby
University of Derby
The University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...
.
He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in the United Kingdom where he obtained an MSc in Defence Strategic Studies.
He was appointed Deputy Secretary for Policy and Procurement in the Zimbabwe Ministry of Defence in 2000.
In October 2002 the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
published the Final report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The report said Karakadzai had the position of Deputy Secretary of COSLEG, which the United Nations described as "a Congo-Zimbabwe joint stock company ... a key vehicle for military-backed commerce involving mostly diamonds, banking and timber in the Government-held areas". It named Karakadzai as a key player in arranging a January 2001 deal with John Bredenkamp
John Bredenkamp
John Arnold Bredenkamp is a Zimbabwean businessman and former rugby player. He is the founder of the Casalee Group.-Early life:...
's Tremalt
Tremalt
Tremalt Limited was a mining company incorporated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It was the vehicle for a highly criticized deal in 2001 in which it bought copper assets at far below their estimated value in return for a private agreement to pay a share of profits to the DRC and Zimbabwe...
whereby Tremalt obtained copper mining resources in the DRC at a nominal price in exchange for paying a share of proceeds to the governments of the DRC and Zimbabwe. Some of the payments were to be made in the form of military equipment.
Karakadzai was named in February 2004 by the European Union as being among Zimbabwe government members whose assets must be frozen by members and who would be barred from entry or transit by members of the union.
In December 2008 Australia added him to its list of targeted sanctions against those responsible for the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.
On 1 November 2005 Karakadzai was appointed General Manager of the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
In February 2011 President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
said that Karakadzai would be in charge of his reelection campaign in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, at a date to be announced. Sources said this was likely to be a very violent campaign.
In May 2011 Karakadzai said that lack of credit from foreign lenders was preventing the National Railways of Zimbabwe from replacing aging equipment. He blamed this on illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the west.