Scott Sakupwanya

Pedzisayi "Scott" Sakupwanya (born 1979) is a Zimbabwean businessman who was installed as a member of parliament for Mabvuku-Tafara constituency in 2023.[1] He was elected unopposed after the Zimbabwean dictatorship disqualified all opponents.[2] A Zvigananda, he has been noted as a key player in Zimbabwe's "Gold Mafia" smuggling ring and for his close ties to IOC president Kirsty Coventry.

Election to parliament

He was "elected" to the Zimbabwean parliament as the representative for the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency unopposed in 2023 after the High Court of Zimbabwe decision removed all other candidates in a by-election.[3]

Corruption allegations

He has been described as a key Zvigananda as one of "three wealthy, highly influential businessmen with close ties to the government who are widely believed to be corrupt" alongside Wicknell Chivayo and Kuda Tagwirei.[4]

In 2025, a company associated with Sakupwanya was given control of large sections of Redwing Mine and 132 claims while the mine was under corporate rescue.[5] His operation of the mine was described as "a testament to the lawlessness and impunity of Zimbabwe’s political elite" by GroundUp, a public interest news organization in the country, which added:

With the lawlessness came deaths, corruption and cover ups. The government, law enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities have largely turned a blind eye, despite revelations that senior police and army officers control some of the pits at the mine.[5]

"Gold mafia" smuggling scandal

Sakupwanya is the founder and CEO of Better Brands, a gold mining dealing company.[6][7][8] In 2023, Al Jazeera discovered a gold-smuggling and laundering operation, dubbed the "Gold mafia" scandal, which was responsible for washing over $100 million in dirty cash in Zimbabwe in which Sakupwanya played a central role.[9][10] He and his company were accused by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance of delivering less than half of their gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners while smuggling the rest abroad.[11]

Sakupwanya appeared in the final episode of the investigation as a ZANU–PF parliamentary candidate in a fixed election who was Zimbabwe's #1 gold figure after supplanting Ewan Macmillan, a convicted smuggler.[12][11] During the investigation, he was shown agreeing to receive money, buy gold, and pay the undercover journalists offshore with a 10 percent return for the smuggling.[13]

In photographs, Sakupwanya was pictured flaunting $5 million USD in cash and gold bars on June 29, 2020.[14]

Sport

He owns two football clubs: Scottland F.C., that as of 2025 plays in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League, and N’ombeyaora, playing in the Northern Region Division One.[15] He has a notably close relationship with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, dating to her time as sports minister in the post-coup d'état Zimbabwean when they were close collaborators.[16][17] She publicly praised Sakupwanya despite his gold smuggling notoriety.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ Editor, NewZimbabwe (2023-12-08). "Gold dealer Sakupwanya wins Mabvuku-Tafara constituency uncontested as High Court amends judgement". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 2026-05-13. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ↑ Contributor, By Onai Mushava (2024-02-14). "'Gold Mafia' Kingpin Anointed MP as Zimbabwe Disenfranchises 108 Elected Officials". UNICORN RIOT. Retrieved 2026-05-13. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ↑ "Gold dealer Sakupwanya wins Mabvuku-Tafara constituency uncontested as High Court amends judgement". www.newzimbabwe.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  4. ↑ Mhaka, Tafi. "Zimbabwe must abandon Rhodesian style of governance". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  5. 1 2 Gagare, Owen (2025-03-24). "Deaths, cover-ups and bribes at Zimbabwe's lawless Redwing Mine". GroundUp News. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  6. ↑ "Better Brands sets new gold record . . . as it delivers US$1,2 billion haul – DailyNews". dailynews.co.zw. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  7. ↑ "About Us – Betterbrands Group". Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  8. ↑ "Zimbabwe : Gold tycoon Scott Sakupwanya restarts Redwing despite miner deaths - 14/04/2023". Africa Intelligence. 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  9. ↑ Unit, Al Jazeera Investigative. "How a 'Gold Mafia' is looting Southern Africa, washing dirty cash". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  10. ↑ Zimbabwe, New (2023-04-14). "The New Mr Gold: Scott Sakupwanya finally makes appearance in Gold Mafia investigation". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  11. 1 2 Bwanya, Marshall (2023-04-09). "Gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya named in Gold Mafia scandal". Zimbabwe News Now. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  12. ↑ "The New Mr Gold: Scott Sakupwanya finally makes appearance in Gold Mafia investigation". NewZimbabwe.com. 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  13. ↑ "Gold fight rages on in Penhalonga". www.thezimbabwean.co. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  14. ↑ Bwanya, Marshall (2023-04-09). "Gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya named in Gold Mafia scandal". Zimbabwe News Now. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  15. ↑ Reporter, Online (September 28, 2025). "TWO SISTER CLUBS FLYING HIGH". herald. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  16. ↑ "BETTERBRANDS DONATE BOXING RING". 2026-05-14. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  17. ↑ Mhara, Henry. "Scott donates boxing ring". NewsDay. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  18. ↑ Zidan, Karim. "The IOC's new leader brings dictatorship experience to the job". www.sportspolitika.news. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  19. ↑ "Massive boost for Zim boxing". 2026-05-16. Retrieved 2026-05-16.


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