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Alleged Gold Smuggling Syndicate Siphons Over US$10 Million from Zimbabwe Formal Sector

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A mining syndicate operating in Zimbabwe’s formal gold market is believed to have illegally diverted more than 120 kilograms of gold — valued at in excess of US$10 million — over a period of under two years, according to production data and internal documents obtained by investigators.

The company at the centre of the investigation, Podhill (Pvt) Ltd (Silobela, Kwekwe District), is co‑owned by Chinese national Zuo Wenzhong and Australian businessman Moham Karim. The business is accused of under‑declaring its output while running large‑scale unrecorded gold smelting operations.

According to official filings, Podhill declared less than 4 kg of gold for 2024, despite internal mine records showing it processed over 3,000 kg of ore every month and produced multiple gold batches off‑book.

Investigators say that in December 2024 the company’s carbon‑in‑pulp (CIP) processing line yielded nearly 1.5 kg of gold per batch, with payment notes showing transactions as high as US$16,000 handled via a partner identified as “Talib”. Yet only 300 g of that was officially delivered for refinement.

Between May and June 2024, Podhill’s heap‑leaching operation reportedly processed more than 3,000 kg of feed material and generated at least US$117,000 per smelt run, revenue investigators believe was never declared to Zimbabwe’s tax authority or the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

Further financial analysis shows that small but very pure gold batches (flotation amalgam) were privately sold at US$70 per gram — significantly higher than the official price — to undisclosed buyers tied to foreign markets.

The syndicate is reported to have used private air cargo, cash transactions, and trusted couriers to move smelted gold from Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province to refiners in Dubai and China.

Podhill is controlled through a 95 % share held by Generous Resources (Pvt) Ltd, which is under Zuo’s control. Other linked companies identified in the probe include Milhub, as part of the wider network moving gold outside state oversight.

Key individuals named in the investigation include general manager He Huayang and director Duan Yuanbin, both Chinese nationals, along with associate Mohamad Taleb and business partner Moham Karim. They are alleged to have managed a sophisticated scheme that masked illegal extraction and export as legitimate mining.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Minerals and Border Control Unit is reportedly investigating the affair, with financial records, ledgers and photographs now forming part of the evidence being traced through the interconnected companies.

Industry watchers note that Zimbabwe’s gold sector is vulnerable to such diversion because gold is high‑value and low‑bulk, making it susceptible to leakage into international markets via weak enforcement and porous borders.

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Harare City Council Leases Stadiums to Premier League Clubs

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The Harare City Council has sealed landmark agreements with three Premier Soccer League clubs, handing them long-term leases to revive previously idle stadiums.

Under the arrangement, Gwanzura Stadium has been allocated to CAPS United, Mabvuku Stadium to Scottland FC, and Dzivarasekwa Stadium to Herentals College FC. All three clubs will be responsible for renovating the facilities to meet Premier Soccer League standards.

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume confirmed the development during CAPS United’s sponsorship unveiling ceremony on Friday.

“We have given Gwanzura Stadium to CAPS United on a long lease and Mabvuku Stadium to Scottland FC. Dzivarasekwa Stadium has been allocated to Herentals College FC. The clubs will develop the grounds,” Mafume said.
“Rufaro Stadium, being a bigger facility, will remain open for use by any club. It is important for these sporting facilities to be managed in partnership with clubs so they can be tied to both the fans and the sports economy.”

The arrangement sets the stage for CAPS United’s emotional return to Highfield, where the Green Machine built its legacy during its early glory days at Gwanzura.

Scottland FC will also benefit from the move, shifting closer to its roots in Mabvuku—the home ground of its owner, businessman and Member of Parliament, Scott Sakupwanya.

The three stadiums last hosted top-flight football several years ago, but with the new leases, they are set to come back to life as vibrant hubs of Zimbabwean football.

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Judicial Service Commission Honors Late Justice Chinhengo

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Judicial Service Commission Honors Late Justice Chinhengo
Judicial Service Commission Honors Late Justice Chinhengo

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of Zimbabwe has announced the passing of Honourable Justice Moses Hungwe Chinhengo, a former High Court judge.

Mourners are gathered at Chinhengo Farm in the Nyaningwe area of Masvingo Province.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba, Chairperson of the JSC, along with commissioners, judges, magistrates, and JSC members, expressed their deepest condolences to the Chinhengo family.

Justice Chinhengo, born on October 29, 1955, in Masvingo Province, served as a High Court judge in Zimbabwe from February 26, 1996, to February 29, 2004.

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He later held judicial positions in Botswana and Lesotho and served as an Acting Judge of the High Court of Namibia.

A graduate of the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree in 1978, Justice Chinhengo held significant roles early in his career, including Undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice and Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1982 and head of the Department of Parliamentary Affairs and Justice Department in 1983.

Before his judicial appointment, he worked as a legal officer in the Ministry of Justice, as a legal practitioner, and as a corporate executive.

Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.

The JSC and the legal community mourn the loss of a distinguished jurist whose contributions to Zimbabwe’s judiciary and beyond will be remembered.

ALSO READ: SRC Director General Nengomasha Steps Down, Mudzimiri Appointed Acting Head

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Young Warriors Step Up Preparations Ahead of COSAFA Qualifiers

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The Zimbabwe Under-17 men’s football team, the Young Warriors, are intensifying preparations for the upcoming 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA Qualifiers, which the country will host from September 11 to 20.

Assistant Coach Backlyfield Chivenga said the squad has shown steady progress since entering camp, with the technical team now focusing on refining quality and tactical awareness after trimming the provisional list.

“We were screening the boys and bringing them into a reasonable number by quality. We are left with quite a good number to work with, and we’ve seen progress from day one to now. There’s evidence of improvement in terms of how we play,” Chivenga told reporters.

The Young Warriors have played three friendly matches against strong opposition, which Chivenga described as crucial in testing the squad’s readiness and exposing areas for further improvement.

“These matches gave us a picture of where we are in terms of our style of play. We will keep on working on our defensive shape and our attacking shape,” he said. “We are also trying to bring the boys into a friendly working environment, making them understand that it’s not about individuals but about representing the nation.”

The technical team has placed emphasis on instilling discipline, unity, and tactical maturity — qualities they believe are essential for the squad to challenge for honours in the regional competition.

Zimbabwe will be banking on home advantage as hosts, with expectations high that the Young Warriors can finally break their qualification drought. The COSAFA tournament not only crowns the region’s best but also serves as the pathway to the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Young Warriors last reached the continental finals in 2007 in Togo. Since then, they have consistently fallen short in regional qualifiers, often exiting at the group stages. Hosting the 2026 edition offers a chance to revive their fortunes and re-establish Zimbabwe’s presence in youth football.

“If we continue with this trajectory, we will get to the tournament prepared to get the results,” Chivenga said, adding that confidence is growing within the squad.

The Young Warriors are set to open their COSAFA campaign in Harare, with fixtures expected to be announced in the coming days.

ALSO READ : Warriors Fall to Benin in World Cup Qualifier

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