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Tonderai Ndoro
Herald Correspondent
On March 3, 2025, I stumbled upon an article by Luke Tamborinyoka, former spokesperson for Morgan Tsvangirai, titled “Named and Shamed: Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Criminals Around Him.”
I must say, Tamborinyoka’s writing style has become tedious and lengthy, making for a dull read. It is hard to believe that this is the same individual who once edited one of Zimbabwe’s daily newspapers.
Despite my reservations, I persevered and read the entire article.
The one redeeming aspect of reading the article was that it rekindled the literary scholar in me. It brought back memories of my university lecturer, who would frequently remind our English class that literary scholars contend that the true meaning of a text often lies in the silences, gaps, and tensions between sentences, rather than in the explicit narrative.
Having sifted through the misinformation that Luke was peddling, I could not help but feel a pang of sympathy for his misinformed readers. It was clear that he was masterfully weaving a web of disinformation, carefully crafting a narrative that perpetuated the opposition’s protest ideology and disaster rhetoric.
This deliberate attempt to deceive and manipulate public opinion is a stark reminder of the dangers of disinformation and its potential to sow discord and undermine trust.
I, thus, felt compelled to set the record straight. I will begin by debunking the fabrications presented in the “Gold Mafia” documentary.
Archival records reveal that Zimbabwe’s gold output peaked at 27,1 tonnes in 1999. However, just eight years later, disaster struck. In 2007, gold production plummeted to a record low of three tonnes, prompting Fidelity Printers to shut down.
This drastic decline led to Zimbabwe’s expulsion from the prestigious London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) in 2008.
Some pseudo-analysts might attribute the 2007 gold mining debacle to the closure of large gold mines and the Kwekwe smelting plant. However, few acknowledge the significant impact of the post-2000 Fast Track Land Reform Programme, which, combined with the closure of major gold mines, led to the emergence of two distinct groups of gold miners, small-scale miners often referred to “Amakorokoza” and the Gold Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe.
Notably, the association originated as a predominantly white grouping, comprising former white commercial farmers who had fled from Greater Mashonaland to Bulawayo. There, they discreetly initiated mining activities. Interestingly, their contributions to Fidelity Printers remain unknown to this day.
The Gold Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe gained public prominence during the Government of National Unity (GNU), which was in place from 2009 to 2013.
At this time, who was their chairperson? Notably, it was none other than Casper Tsvangirai, the brother of the late Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai. Interestingly, this fact seems to have been overlooked by Tamborinyoka, who was working in Tsvangirai’s office.
It is also worth questioning the producers of the “Gold Mafia” documentary, who seem to have missed the actual gold smuggling that took place during this time.
Under President Mnangagwa, Fidelity Printers’ gold delivery statistics tell a story of growth. Gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) in Zimbabwe have been on the rise, increasing from 33,29 tonnes in 2018 to 36,48 tonnes in 2024.
This upward trend is a testament to the country’s commitment to achieving its ambitious 100-tonne target.
From 2018 to 2024, deliveries were as follows: 2018 (33,29 tonnes), 2019 (27,66t), 2020 (30,1t), 2021 (29,7t), 2022 (35,3t), 2023 (30,1t), and 2024 (36,48t).
Is not concerning that the “Gold Mafia” documentary surfaces at a time when Zimbabwe is making notable progress in its gold sector?
Notably, indigenous small-scale miners contributed significantly in 2024, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country’s total gold deliveries. This achievement can be attributed to President Mnangagwa’s policies, which have empowered local miners and stimulated growth in the industry.
This leads us to consider the role of Scott Sakupwanya, a gold buying agent and founder of Better Brands Jewellery (BBJ). Through BBJ, Sakupwanya has notably empowered over 5 000 youths operating at Redwing Mine in Manicaland, with his presence also felt in Mashonaland and Matabeleland regions.
Despite the narrative portrayed, it is clear that Sakupwanya is not a criminal. In reality, Sakupwanya and his peers have significantly disrupted the influence of the Gold Millers Association of Zimbabwe, which represents a conduit for white capital in Zimbabwe and their smuggling activities.
The narrative surrounding Zimbabwe’s gold sector, as portrayed in the documentary, warrants scrutiny. While the documentary highlights concern about corruption and illicit gold trading, it fails to acknowledge the significant progress made under President Mnangagwa’s policies.
These policies have successfully empowered local small-scale miners, driven growth in the industry, and effectively combated the smuggling of gold. Furthermore, the documentary’s portrayal of certain individuals, such as Scott Sakupwanya, is misleading and ignores their positive contributions to the sector.
Now, concerning the people surrounding the President!
The late Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s close confidant was Roy Bennett, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in North America. Bennett was one of Tsvangirai’s trusted business associates.
However, controversy surrounds Bennett’s alleged failure to account for diamonds mined on his farm, a topic that remains unaddressed by the likes of Tamborinyoka.
Similarly, Nelson Chamisa’s close associate is Dr Tapiwa Shumba, a businessman based in South Africa. While it is acceptable for opposition leaders to have business connections, it seems that the same standards do not apply to the ruling party’s President.
This double standard is evident in the criticism faced by businesspeople like Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Wicknell Chivayo, who have been linked to President Mnangagwa.
Considering that Tamborinyoka is a journalist, one cannot help but feel let down.
Recently, President Mnangagwa met with journalists, and one editor brought up the so-called concerns about Chivayo. The President openly invited anyone with evidence of Chivayo’s wrongdoing to report to the nearest police station. Yet, to date, no one has come forward with concrete evidence, instead relying on social media rumours.
It is surprising that despite the President’s call to action, no one has taken him up on the offer. This lack of action raises questions about the validity of the claims being made against Chivayo. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, it is essential to report it to the authorities, rather than spreading rumours on social media.
The attack on Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, is unwarranted and lacks merit. Dr Rushwaya has a long history of public service, having served as a district administrator and later as a provincial administrator.
Notably, his appointments predate the current administration, with his tenure as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans occurring during the late former President Robert Mugabe’s era.
His career advancements, particularly his earlier appointment as permanent secretary, indicates that his career progress was based on merit, rather than any connections to President Mnangagwa.
Ultimately, Dr Rushwaya’s qualifications and experience should be the primary factors in evaluating his suitability for the post, not his potential family ties.
Tamborinyoka’s assertion that the President’s relatives should not engage in business raises a crucial question: should the State then be responsible for supporting the President’s extended family?
This is a misguided expectation as it blurs the lines between personal and public responsibility. It is worth noting that many presidents globally have had relatives who are successful businesspeople or professionals in their own right. For example, former vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris’s husband, Douglas Emhoff, is an entertainment lawyer, and her stepchildren have their own careers.
Tamborinyoka’s article is a masterful work of disinformation, expertly crafted to deceive and manipulate public opinion rather than provide accurate information.
With a narrative that is as misleading as it is sensational, his piece is a textbook example of how disinformation can be used to shape public discourse and advance a particular agenda.
By presenting a skewed and selective version of events, Tamborinyoka’s article aims to create a false narrative that supports his own biases and interests, rather than providing a balanced and truthful account of facts.
As such, his piece should be treated with scepticism and dismissed as a work of disinformation.
Online Reporter