By Nigel Tawanda Pfunde
Bulawayo- Prominent Bulawayo lawyer Dumisani Dube has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in connection with a major fraud case involving a gold mine.
His alleged accomplice Mohammed Daka, was apprehended last Thursday while attempting to flee to Botswana as reported by Timely News
The two stand accused of fraudulently attempting to seize control of Fools Mine which is a gold-rich site located in the Hope Fountain area , approximately 18 kilometers from Bulawayo along the Matopos highway.
According to preliminary investigations by Timely News, Daka allegedly manipulated the country’s Indigenous law framework to generate fake documents that claimed he was the rightful owner of the mine.
He is said to have fabricated a board resolution to apply for corporate rescue and unlawfully took over operations from the rightful owners. Dube is believed to have assisted in crafting the forged documents, including a falsified power of attorney bearing the signature of Xiaofei Xu who is the son of the late Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shuixing Xu.
Daka and Dube reportedly went a step further by orchestrating the arrest of five local businessmen Victor Jaja, Munyaradzi Charakupa, Tawanda Mangi, and Percy Pemba on fabricated charges of fraud and extortion.
These charges were later dismissed in court due to lack of evidence and they were duly acquitted.
Bulawayo police spokes Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed Dube’s arrest, stating he was taken into custody at Donnington Police Station by ZACC officials.
Both suspects have since appeared before a Bulawayo Magistrates Court and were denied bail.
Fools Mine was once owned by Ambassador Shuixing Xu and Harare-based businessman Mr. Wang and became a source of dispute after Xu’s death.
Xu’s son, Xiaofei, inherited operations but soon faced threats and coercion from Daka who was then part of the mine’s management.
Daka allegedly claimed affiliation with state security and pressured Xiaofei into making unauthorized payments.
Tensions escalated, eventually leading to Xiaofei’s deportation in a move strongly believed to have been orchestrated by Daka.
Following Xiaofei’s departure a local lawyer Marshall Rubvuwe was granted power of attorney to oversee the mine.
However, Daka began asserting full ownership, falsely claiming to hold a 52% stake and citing alleged debts.
Using these claims, he illegally seized and sold assets from the mine, including an excavator worth USD 281,750, a VW Amarok, and two Honda Fit vehicles.
Despite attempts to bribe court officials and the involvement of high-profile legal representatives, Daka’s fraudulent activities were exposed.
Records reveal that on April 17 2024, Daka and Dube conspired to draft a fake board resolution and forged Xiaofei Xu’s signature. Dube signed the document as a witness, company secretary and director.
They presented the forged paperwork to the Master of the High Court and secured a corporate rescue order on April 24 2024.
However, official documents indicate that Fools Mine ceased to exist on February 21 2022 after Mr Wang renamed it to Shenghai, transferring ownership to Kai Wen who remained the registered director until 27 November 2024.
Armed with the fraudulent corporate rescue order, Daka and Dube forcibly removed the legitimate owners, falsely accusing them of extortion as stated above.
Investigations are ongoing, but the case has already sent shockwaves through Bulawayo’s legal and business communities and Dube faces deregistration from the Law Society of Zimbabwe.
This publication understands that Zacc is also prowling on the Bulawayo Master of High Court vis-a-vis the same matter