ZANU PF’s internal divisions have taken a new twist, with one faction accusing Chinese-linked business figures of orchestrating a vast gold-smuggling operation that is allegedly bleeding Zimbabwe of millions of dollars in mineral wealth.
According to insiders, a syndicate led by Chinese national Zuo Wenzhong and Australian businessman Moham Karim allegedly smuggled more than 120 kilogrammes of gold, worth an estimated US$10 million, from Kwekwe’s Silobela gold belt into the black market.
Their company, Podhill (Pvt) Ltd, is said to have declared less than 4kg of gold in 2024, despite internal records showing that thousands of kilogrammes were processed monthly.
Investigators allege that Zuo, together with associates He Huayang, Duan Yuanbin, and Taleb, ran a covert network that funnelled gold to Dubai and China, bypassing official export channels.
US$10 Million Gold Scandal Exposed.‼️
A syndicate led by Chinese national Zuo Wenzhong and Australian businessman Moham Karim allegedly smuggled over 120kg of gold worth US$10 million from Kwekwe’s Silobela gold belt into the black market.
Their company, Podhill (Pvt) Ltd,… pic.twitter.com/brok6bgZoq
— 🇿🇼 ZANU PF PATRIOTS 🇿🇼 (@zanupf_patriots) October 21, 2025
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Minerals and Border Control Unit has reportedly launched a full-scale probe into Podhill, Generous Resources, and Milhub, uncovering private financial ledgers and sales records suggesting gold worth over US$10 million was diverted from state oversight.
Analysts say the renewed focus on Chinese mining interests mirrors past allegations of large-scale mineral looting under former President Robert Mugabe, who once claimed that US$15 billion worth of diamonds had been stolen — largely implicating Chinese firms.
“This appears to be a rehash of the same old script,” said one political observer. “Whenever one faction within ZANU PF feels the Chinese are favouring their rivals, these allegations emerge. It’s less about justice and more about power manoeuvres within the party.”
The ongoing accusations underscore the complex nexus of politics, foreign capital, and corruption in Zimbabwe’s mining sector — and how ZANU PF’s factional battles continue to spill into the public arena.
