Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustafa has denied claims made by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who alleged that the minister acquired his expansive Bloomfield, Berbice home through corrupt means and suggested selective public works benefiting his street. Mustafa dismissed the allegations as “completely untrue, fallacious, and devoid of merit,” stating the house was financed through a Demerara Bank mortgage and personal savings accumulated over a 35-year public career.
Mohamed, in a video posted on Team Mohamed’s page, highlighted what he described as a dramatic transformation over four years. He stated that Mustafa had previously lived in “a simple wooden house,” similar to others in the community. Standing in the foreground of the minister’s mansion, Mohamed showed what he called an ostentatious property featuring a swimming pool, luxury finishes and custom designs, describing a lifestyle “not usually associated with government ministers earning less than G$1.2 million per month.” Mohamed said at the time that under the PPP government, public resources have been misused, noting, “This is what corruption under the PPP looks like.”
The minister also defended his son, Javed Mustapha, against claims of misconduct, calling the accusations “designed to harm the reputation” of his family. Mustafa accused Mohamed of mounting personal attacks to divert attention from his own alleged corrupt practices and said his son had distanced himself from Mohamed due to “unlawful and unethical conduct.”
Despite Mustafa’s denials, public questions remain over how a ministerial salary could support such a property and why only his street has been paved and widened while neighbouring roads reportedly remain in poor condition. Analysts note that such disparities feed public skepticism and highlight concerns about transparency and equity in infrastructure development.
At the time of writing, Mohamed has not issued a response. Observers note that “a picture tells a thousand words,” pointing to the striking contrast Mohamed highlighted between the minister’s former and current residences.
Mustafa has instructed lawyers to review the posts for potential legal action but said he would not engage in a “tit for tat” with Mohamed. The episode underscores ongoing tensions in Guyana over public officials’ wealth, accountability, and the perception of favoritism in local development projects.
See the Minister’s statement below
STATEMENT BY HON. ZULFIKAR MUSTAPHA, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, REGARDING FACEBOOK POST (VIDEO) BY MR. AZRUDDIN MOHAMED ON TEAM MOHAMED’S PAGE
I note with profound concern several Facebook posts (video), laced with nasty propaganda, made under the name Team Mohamed’s, by Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, who was sanctioned by the United States of America, regarding my son and me.
Mr Mohamed’s recent post on December 21, 2025, on the said page, regarding my home situated at Bloomfield, Berbice, clearly attempts to insinuate that the said property was acquired through corrupt means on my part.
I have been up to date with my declarations with the Integrity Commission, and I wish to assure my supporters and the general public that all my assets were acquired through lawful means. I can account for every asset I own.
Further, I have also noted his post on the said Team Mohamed’s page on December 14, 2025, which purports to paint my son, Javed Mustapha, as corrupt. The allegations made therein were false, misleading and designed to harm the reputation of my son’s image as a businessman and a medical Doctor. I have invested in my son’s education, and his entrepreneurial path has been nothing short of maintaining a high standard of accountability, transparency, integrity, and professionalism.
Mr. Mohamed’s hypocrisy is glaring and must not be countenanced. Instead of pretending to be the guardian of corruption, he should be addressing, in public, his own corrupt practices. Clearly, these nasty attacks on my family and me were designed to divert attention from his own corrupt practices.
It is clear that Mr Mohamed will continue to spew these unsubstantiated allegations, as his intent appears to be to attack my family and me personally with this nasty propaganda.
