HARARE – Fresh allegations of state-enabled mining capture have emerged amid dramatic developments in government, with sources claiming that a powerful political figure has effectively become the country’s largest gold producer after wresting control of multiple high-value claims.
According to information gathered on Monday night, the individual – long associated with deep political influence – is accused of cancelling existing mining permits whenever he identifies gold-rich deposits, before taking over the concessions. The volume of complaints lodged against this practice is said to have grown “overwhelming,” raising further concerns about unchecked power within the mining sector.
Insiders also say this may explain the anger reportedly displayed when he was appointed to the Local Government Ministry, with sources claiming he preferred to maintain direct influence in gold-bearing areas. A potentially explosive clash is also said to have arisen over a lucrative concession in Mberengwa that President Emmerson Mnangagwa allegedly wants, placing him on a collision path with ministerial interests.
The dispatch of Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) officials to the Mines Ministry on Friday has further fuelled speculation that deeper issues are unfolding behind closed doors.
The tensions come as Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando has been abruptly fired by President Mnangagwa, according to information obtained by ZimLive. His dismissal stunned officials, particularly because Chitando had spent the day participating in a strategic planning workshop in Masvingo, with no hint that he was on the verge of removal.
Government sources say the decision was heavily influenced by pressure from Mnangagwa’s powerful business ally Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who is reportedly seeking to cement his dominance across the mining sector. Tagwirei, one of the most influential figures in Zimbabwe’s political economy, is believed to be expanding his control over gold, lithium, and chrome assets — areas that have gained immense economic and geopolitical importance.
Chitando, despite being regarded as one of Mnangagwa’s dependable technocrats since his appointment in 2017, has presided over a ministry repeatedly dogged by controversy. These include opaque licensing systems, disputes over mining claims, and criticism over extensive concessions granted to foreign investors under unclear terms.
Sources say the rift between Chitando and entrenched business interests escalated sharply in recent months, with sustained lobbying for his removal. “The pressure became unbearable,” a senior government official said. “Tagwirei wants full control of the mining value chain, and Chitando was standing in the way.”
The Office of the President and Cabinet has not yet issued an official statement confirming the minister’s dismissal or naming a successor. However, the sudden nature of the move has sent shockwaves through the mining sector, already strained by regulatory volatility, unpredictable export frameworks, and a market environment dominated by political patronage.
Political analysts believe Chitando’s ouster signals an intensifying consolidation of power by individuals closely aligned with President Mnangagwa — a trend that could significantly reshape the control and distribution of Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth ahead of the 2028 political calendar.
