A fraudulent mine ownership scam involving top Bulawayo lawyer Dumisani Dube and businessman Mohamed Daka, who were arrested last week, has taken a dramatic turn after a court ordered the duo to cease all mining operations.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) arrested the suspects following a year-long investigation.
Daka was apprehended while attempting to flee into Botswana, and Dube was arrested the following day on the same fraud charges.
A Chinese investor had been forcibly removed from Fools Mine in Bulawayo, located in the Hope Fountain area, approximately 18 kilometres from the city along the Matopos Highway.
The suspects allegedly forged court documents to unlawfully remove other local joint venture investors: Victor Jaja, Munyaradzi Charakupa, Tawanda Mangi, and Percy Pemba.
A court ruling found the Chinese partners not guilty, after it was proven that Daka and Dube had brought false claims before the court.
The duo is expected to appear for trial on 8 June 2025. They were granted USD 500 bail each on 4 June 2025.
A Bulawayo court also issued a peace order against the two, barring them from interfering with witnesses or disrupting operations at Fools Mine.
“They are not allowed to interfere with the witnesses or with mining operations at Fools Mine,” said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Fools Mine is known for its rich fine gold deposits, primarily extracted through the elution process—a capital-intensive method requiring significant investment in machinery and plant infrastructure to maximise output.
The mine was originally owned by the late former Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shuixing Xu, and prominent Harare businessman Mr. Wang. Ownership became disputed following Ambassador Xu’s death, amid allegations of manipulation and threats from Daka, who had been part of the mine’s management.
Tensions escalated, eventually leading to the deportation of Xiaofei Xu, which is believed to have been orchestrated by Daka.
After Xiaofei’s departure, his lawyer, Mr. Marshall Rubvuwe, was granted power of attorney to manage the mine. However, Daka began falsely claiming full ownership, citing unpaid debts supposedly owed to him by the mine.
He falsely asserted a 52% shareholding in the business and, under this pretense, seized and sold valuable machinery, including:
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An excavator worth USD 281,750
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A VW Amarok
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Two Honda Fits
Daka was arrested and appeared in court on 17 July 2024 in connection with these actions.
His fraudulent activities reportedly included abusing indigenous laws to forge documents supporting his ownership claims. Despite employing high-profile lawyers and attempting to bribe court officials, his legal maneuvers ultimately failed.
Mining operations at Fools Mine have since resumed, with the Chinese investor and local partners back in control.
