Tempter Paul Tungwarara’s firm handed ‘looting’ monopoly in mining shake-up

HARARE – A cabinet directive suspending alluvial gold mining and centralising river rehabilitation approvals has triggered fresh allegations of corruption and state capture, following a revelation that, Prevail Group of Companies, a politically connected company owned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor Tempter Paul Tungwarara, has been granted preferential treatment.

In a circular dated 5 January 2026, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, who is also the chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, instructed all ministers and provincial heads that all alluvial mining activities and river rehabilitation programmes remain suspended until further notice.

The directive states that government is in the process of gazetting a Statutory Instrument to enforce the Polluter Pays Principle and to provide a legal framework for river rehabilitation.

The letter further specifies that Prevail Group of Companies has been authorised to undertake river rehabilitation as a prototype project at Muroodzi River in Mashonaland, stressing that the company should not be given mandates beyond the approved site.

It also warns that, pending further guidance, no other company should be awarded river rehabilitation contracts and that only the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has authority to issue rehabilitation permits.

Masuka additionally called on the security cluster to halt what he described as purported illegal alluvial mining and rehabilitation activities, particularly in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland.

While the directive presents the suspension as an environmental protection measure, it has attracted criticism from observers, who allege that the policy is being used to advance private commercial interests under the cover of regulation.

Outspoken journalist Jealousy Mawarire has accused the government of using the suspension to coerce mining companies into arrangements that benefit politically connected actors. Writing on X, Mawarire alleged that the directive effectively exempts Prevail Group, while disadvantaging other operators, including foreign-owned firms.

Mawarire claims that the suspension is designed to “frustrate” mining companies, force them into compliance through a single approved intermediary, and extract monthly royalties of between 10% and 15%. He described the move as a “rent-seeking manoeuvre” intended to give “a veneer of legality” to what he characterised as systematic looting.

“Fellow Zimbabweans, the looting happening in our country is of gigantic proportions. It is obscene, intolerable and outrightly criminal. That it’s being done with the helping hand of the state apparatus is as disgusting and unfathomable as it is unsustainable if we want to build this country,” Mawarire stated.

“The whole plan is to frustrate foreign owned companies, especially those owned by Chinese investors, make them lose business through the suspension, make them desperate then force them to work under Prevail Group with Prevail Group collecting royalties of 10-15% every month.

“That’s the purpose of the ministerial directive and suspension of all alluvial gold mining activities throughout the country’s 10 provinces. It is a rent-seeking maneuver carefully crafted to give it a veneer of legality through the proposed statutory instrument.”

The journalist further questioned how the state reconciles environmental enforcement with the approval of a single “prototype” company, arguing that the arrangement undermines transparency and fair competition in the mining sector.

The directive itself does not explain why Prevail Group was selected for the pilot project, nor does it outline the criteria used in identifying the company. It also does not specify timelines for lifting the suspension or finalising the proposed Statutory Instrument.

Zimbabwe’s alluvial gold mining sector has long been associated with environmental degradation, particularly river siltation and water pollution. Authorities have repeatedly cited these concerns to justify crackdowns and regulatory reforms.

Critics, however, argue that selective enforcement risks undermining investor confidence at a time when the country is seeking to attract capital into its mining industry.