Zimbabwe CIO Officials Under Fire for Extorting Chinese Miner
In a recent case of alleged corruption, two members of the Presidential Guard and three officers from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) are facing serious accusations of extorting US$2,000 from a Chinese miner.
By Ryan Chigoche
The incident reportedly unfolded when the officers coerced the miner into paying the bribe, claiming it was necessary to facilitate business operations in Zimbabwe. This incident has raised significant concerns about the integrity of state security forces and their role in the business environment.
The situation escalated as the miner complied, transferring the bribe to the officers at the Zimbabwe House, a location typically associated with high-level government activities.
The suspects in the extortion case—Chamunorwa Victor Chinorwiwa (32), Hilary Maravanyika (28), Tawanda Ngoshi (39), Samuel Zvishamiso Simbabure, and Respect Zuva, whose age has not been disclosed—are currently facing serious legal challenges.
Simbabure and Zuva appeared in court last week, while their accomplices were presented before Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on a subsequent date. All five are expected back in court on Tuesday for a ruling on their application contesting their placement on remand, and they are also facing robbery charges.
According to the State, the incidents occurred on October 19, 2024, when the group allegedly conspired to visit the Murodzi mining claim in Mazowe. Posing as members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), they ordered the miner, Enjie Zhang, along with his 25 workers, to gather and sit together in one location, asserting their authority under false pretences.
According to court documents, the lead suspect, Samuel Zvishamiso Simbabure, and his accomplices used threats to coerce the complainant, Enjie Zhang, and his workers into submission.
They allegedly ordered the group to remain still, brandishing a pistol and threatening to shoot anyone who attempted to flee. The suspects demanded that the complainant and fellow Chinese nationals, including Jinliang Xue, Hang Hainglin, and Shan Dong Zhou, present their identity documents, mining certificates, and work permits.
While the complainants produced their identity documents, they could not provide the mining certificates and work permits, claiming these were held by their general manager, Hu, in Harare.
The suspects accused them of conducting illegal mining operations and demanded a bribe of US$2,000 for their release. Following instructions, the complainant contacted Hu to arrange for the payment.
Prosecutors allege that Hu then contacted an informant, Godfrey Zambuko, instructing him to deliver the bribe to Ngoshi at Zimbabwe House. Zambuko complied and handed over the money; however, Ngoshi is reportedly still at large.
Additionally, Hang Hainglin, who managed to escape the initial confrontation, received US$1,000 from another Chinese national to facilitate a separate payment. Eventually, an interpreter named Kelvinator Don Paricha delivered US$800 to the suspects, resulting in the release of the complainant and his fellow workers. However, the plot thickened when Simbabure later contacted Zambuko for an additional bribe, prompting further investigation that led to the arrest of two suspects at Zimbabwe House.
In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in instances where local law enforcement officers and individuals claiming political connections extort kickbacks from Chinese miners engaged in illegal mining activities in Zimbabwe.
This troubling trend highlights a disturbing collaboration between corrupt officials and those exploiting the country’s natural resources.
As demands for bribes grow, miners often operating outside legal frameworks find themselves trapped in a cycle of corruption that undermines regulatory structures and ethical business practices.
This brazen act of impersonation not only raises serious questions about the conduct of those in positions of power but also highlights the broader issue of corruption and lawlessness in the mining sector.