Govt’s Anti-Smuggling Crackdown Raises Questions Over Mnangagwa’s Alleged Links to Sanctioned Gold Smuggling Network
By A Correspondent | Harare, Zimbabwe – As the Government intensifies its nationwide crackdown on smuggling and illicit trade, revelations have emerged exposing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s alleged links to a sanctioned gold smuggling network, raising questions about the sincerity of the operation.
While Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube condemned smuggling as detrimental to Zimbabwe’s economy during the launch of the anti-smuggling blitz, he failed to address recent U.S. Treasury sanctions that implicate President Mnangagwa in the very practices the Government now claims to be eradicating.
On December 9, 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the UK government and the FBI, sanctioned 28 individuals and businesses involved in a global gold smuggling and money laundering network centered in Zimbabwe. At the heart of the operation is Kamlesh Pattni, a controversial figure who has been implicated in exploiting Zimbabwe’s natural resources through corrupt partnerships with high-level government officials.
The OFAC report specifically named Pattni’s Sun Multinational DMCC network, which has deep ties to Zimbabwe’s leadership, including allegations of direct collaboration with President Mnangagwa, who himself was sanctioned on March 4, 2024, under Executive Order 13818 for corruption and human rights abuses.
Omissions in Government’s Narrative
Despite the Government’s current anti-smuggling initiative, Minister Ncube made no mention of the systemic corruption highlighted by the U.S. and UK sanctions, which accuse Mnangagwa’s regime of facilitating illicit gold exports through bribery and fraudulent incentives. The network, according to OFAC, has systematically drained Zimbabwe of its natural wealth while enriching corrupt officials and shielding criminal enterprises.
“Pattni’s network is emblematic of globalized corruption, exploiting Zimbabwe’s resources while depriving its citizens of economic benefits,” stated Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The Mnangagwa Connection
Pattni’s operations reportedly thrived under the patronage of high-ranking officials, with President Mnangagwa at the center of these allegations. Pattni’s network, through front companies and trusted couriers, orchestrated the export of Zimbabwe’s gold and diamonds while returning inflated cash figures to benefit government insiders. In exchange for protection, Pattni’s operations bypassed customs controls—the very issues the current anti-smuggling crackdown claims to address.
International Accountability
The revelations have led observers to question whether the Government’s anti-smuggling operation is genuine or a smokescreen to distract from international scrutiny. By failing to acknowledge Mnangagwa’s alleged involvement, critics argue that the campaign appears more focused on small-scale vendors and transport operators while ignoring entrenched corruption at the highest levels.
Industry Reaction and Public Outcry
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) and other business stakeholders have cautiously welcomed the crackdown, but concerns remain about the selective nature of enforcement. CZR President Dr. Denford Mutashu called for fairness, saying, “While this operation targets smugglers harming local industries, it must be impartial. If corruption at the top is not addressed, these efforts will lack credibility.”
Meanwhile, civil society organizations and opposition leaders have demanded an independent inquiry into the President’s alleged role in enabling Pattni’s network, as revealed in the OFAC sanctions.
As Zimbabwe navigates this anti-smuggling drive, the failure to confront allegations against Mnangagwa casts a shadow over the Government’s efforts, raising fears that the initiative is more performative than transformative.