President Emmerson Mnangagwa's family is seemingly on a gold mine grab spree and wealth accumulation agenda if events taking place across the country are anything to go by.

Panashe Makufa

From his son Emmerson Junior and the twin brothers, the first family is at the centre of yet another controversy involving alleged attempts to seize mining operations across Zimbabwe forcibly.

This time,  Mnangagwa’s son, Dambudzo, allegedly led a group of illegal miners into Vubachikwe Mine a Duration Gold Limited-owned mine, in Matabeleland South, arriving with a convoy of ZANU-PF-branded vehicles Thursday 09 January 2025.

According to sources, the group, allegedly led by Dambudzo, claimed to represent the First Family and entered the mine in vehicles adorned with President Mnangagwa’s image. Equipped with heavy earthmoving machinery, they began mining a surface section of the leased property without the consent or knowledge of mine management.

Economists have expressed concern over the implications of such actions. Professor Gift Mugano, an economist at the University of Zimbabwe, commented: "This is unprecedented. It's a higher level of lawlessness. It has got a massive infringement on corporate rights. So it sends a message to global community that Zimbabwe is not open for business. "

The Government of Zimbabwe confirmed the intrusion but did not disclose whether any arrests had been made. Witnesses reported that the police were present but acted as bystanders while the group carried out their activities. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, sought to distance the President’s family from the incident, stating:

“Police were called in to restore order and responded swiftly. The latest information indicates that operations at Vubachikwe Mine are proceeding uninterrupted. There is no suggestion of any First Family involvement, but rather, name-dropping, which is prevalent in such situations. More information will be shared as it becomes available.”

This incident follows allegations made by ZANU-PF shadow Member of Parliament Lungisani Ncube, who claimed that over 30 illegal miners had been trapped and killed in one of Vubachikwe Mine’s shafts. These claims sparked national outrage, highlighting the dangers of unregulated mining.

However, investigations by this publication, which included a descent 1.2 kilometres into the mine’s shafts, found no evidence to support Ncube’s claims. The Provincial Mining Director Tariro Ndlovu dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying, “We haven’t heard of anyone missing or reported missing from the vicinity of the mine or anywhere. As far as we are concerned, it’s a hoax.”

When reached for comment, Lungisani Ncube defended his actions, saying his involvement at Vubachikwe Mine was to protect the interests of Zanu PF in the area.”Am just helping as a shadow MP, there are people there who support Zanu PF.”

Regarding the spread of fake news, he denied the allegations despite the overwhelming evidence that he was the originator of the message on local WhatsApp groups. 

The Mine Spokesperson, Robert Mukondiwa, questioned the intentions of those spreading false information:

“Perhaps it is to derail the care and maintenance operations that we have been successfully running as a mine. Or it is just mischief on their part to tarnish the image of the country.”

The Mnangagwa family has faced repeated accusations of orchestrating mine takeovers through proxies and leveraging political influence. Communities across Zimbabwe have criticized these actions, accusing the First Family of enriching themselves at the expense of the nation.

In Mutoko last year, President Mnangagwa was forced to intervene after local leaders distanced themselves from ZANU-PF over land grabs and mining activities linked to his sons and their proxies. Families displaced from ancestral lands to make way for mining operations have yet to see the promised improvements in their living conditions.

Scott Sakupwanya, a ZANU-PF legislator for Mabvuku and a prominent proxy for the Mnangagwa family, has been accused of forcibly taking over mines, including Redwing Mine in Vumba. Sakupwanya’s Betterbrands company has been linked to unsafe mining practices, with over 100 deaths reported at the site.

An anonymous source told this publication, “If you go to Mutare General Hospital’s morgue, you will see a number of unidentified bodies—miners who died in the shafts during Betterbrands' operations. It’s unfortunate that the Provincial Health Office cannot release such information due to fear.”

Adding to the controversy are allegations of ritualistic practices involving the blood of miners killed during illegal operations. Though unverified, these claims have further tarnished the First Family’s reputation. Reports suggest that Sakupwanya and his team even held a night vigil with a spirit medium last year to “cleanse” a mine of its bloodshed.

The Mnangagwa family is also accused of involvement in chrome mine takeovers in Shurugwi, gold mines in Makaha and Bindura, and copper mines in Beitbridge and Redwing. A reported clash with Vice President Kembo Mohadi over a mine in Beitbridge highlights the far-reaching influence of these takeovers.

Zimbabweans are increasingly calling for accountability and justice, condemning the Mnangagwa family’s alleged exploitation of the country’s resources. With mines left in disrepair, communities displaced, and lives lost, the urgency for transparency and regulation in Zimbabwe’s mining sector has never been greater.

The attempted takeover of Vubachikwe Mine is just the latest in a long string of controversies, underscoring the critical need for reforms to address politically driven exploitation. As allegations against the First Family and their proxies mount, the demand for justice grows louder, with many insisting that no one, regardless of status, should be above the law.