ZimLive

Zimbabwe’s deputy minister of industry and commerce Raj Modi has been stranded in Australia for three months after the coronavirus outbreak disrupted international travel, ZimLive can reveal.

The 61-year-old was travelling on private business when Australia imposed a lockdown on March 20, before Zimbabwe closed its borders to foreigners on March 30.

Modi reportedly owns three supermarkets in Australia and runs a liquor wholesale business in Bulawayo.

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana confirmed Modi’s lengthy absence.

“I can confirm that deputy minister Modi is in Australia and is making arrangements to come back home,” Mangwana said.

Modi had not responded to questions left for him on his WhatsApp.

The 61-year-old Bulawayo South MP (Zanu PF) was born in India. Aged 22, he met his Zimbabwe-born future wife, Parul Kothari, and eventually settled in Bulawayo.