Zimbabwe’s social media platforms were set ablaze this week after self-proclaimed inventor and entrepreneur Maxwell Sangulani Chikumbutso was paraded before President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House on Tuesday. Chikumbutso, who once found himself a guest at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, showcased his alleged latest inventions, including what he claimed to be the world’s first self-powering vehicles and motorbikes that run on radio waves.
The event, however, has been met with widespread scepticism and criticism, with many labelling Chikumbutso a fraud. Social media users were quick to point out that the vehicles he presented appeared to be manufactured in China, not Zimbabwe.
A Controversial Past
Chikumbutso’s appearance at State House has reignited discussions about his controversial past. In 2018, he was arrested on six counts of armed robbery alongside five accomplices. During his bail application, represented by lawyer Admire Rubaya, Chikumbutso denied involvement in any of the offences.
He told Justice Roger Manyangadze Foroma that he was the operator of a successful company pioneering new technology and inventions. He also claimed to be famous for his good work and to possess substantial assets in Zimbabwe. However, Justice Foroma noted that Chikumbutso failed to provide a single title deed as proof of his alleged immovable properties.
“He further argued that he is operating a successful company pioneering new technology and inventions and is famous for the good work he is involved in and that he has substantial assets in Zimbabwe, including immovable properties, yet not a single deed of transfer was produced or referred to as proof,” Justice Foroma said in his ruling.
The State opposed bail, revealing that among the firearms recovered by the police, one belonged to Chikumbutso. The firearm, which was unlicensed, was found in the vehicle of a co-accused who claimed he had given Chikumbutso a lift and that the firearm had been forgotten in the car.
Justice Foroma denied Chikumbutso bail, stating that he was not satisfied that the possession of the firearm, whether by Chikumbutso or his co-accused, was innocent. The trial resumed around 2021, but by then, some of Chikumbutso’s accomplices had passed away, leaving only three remaining.
NewsDay established that his alleged accomplices were Harmony Nyati, Polite Madamombe (both deceased), Austin Ncube, Wisdom Tariro, and Godfrey Josi. They were accused of robbing Murefu Service Station in Waterfalls, Harare.
Social Media Backlash
Chikumbutso’s State House appearance has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. Zanu PF activist Kudzai Mutisi urged the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services to retract its posts about the event.
“The @InfoMinZW and @DeptCommsZW should withdraw their posts and delete them and forget about this embarrassing incident,” Mutisi said. He also called for the dismissal of all engineers in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), stating, “If there are engineers in OPC, fire them, they are useless people adding no value. They were supposed to prevent this embarrassing situation.”
Mutisi further criticised Chikumbutso’s claims, saying, “Max invented nothing, whatever he is describing has no scientific basis. It’s so clear one does not need a microscope to see the fraudulent claims. If he had made such an invention, oil prices would have fallen massively, shares of some IC [internal combustion] vehicle manufacturers would have plummeted, Elon Musk would have shown interest… It would shake the world.”
Award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono also weighed in, disparaging Mnangagwa for hosting Chikumbutso during his annual leave.
“So Emmerson Mnangagwa came out of his leave to preside over a ceremony based on lies?” Chin’ono posted on X. “This is what happens when you surround yourself with useless minds, appointing them solely because they are relatives or friends. It has been long proven that the claim of developing a self-powering electric vehicle that operates without fuel, recharging, or external input, purportedly powered entirely by radio waves, is false. Why do we embarrass ourselves like this?”
Chin’ono flagged the event as a potential ploy to loot public funds under the guise of funding Chikumbutso’s inventions.
“Sadly, this is not new in Zimbabwe. The whole government believed that diesel can ooze out of a rock and they gave the conwoman money, a farm and cars,” Chin’ono said. “What a useless bunch of people we have in power, incorrigible and archaic.”
A Showcase of “Inventions”
Despite the backlash, Mnangagwa’s communications team posted several pictures of Chikumbutso showcasing his “inventions” to an enthralled president at State House. The images depicted Chikumbutso demonstrating his self-powering vehicles and motorbikes, which he claims are powered by radio waves.
However, the authenticity of these inventions remains highly questionable. Critics argue that such groundbreaking technology would have garnered global attention and disrupted industries worldwide. Instead, Chikumbutso’s claims have been met with ridicule and accusations of fraud.
A Pattern of Controversy
This is not the first time Zimbabwe has been embroiled in controversy over dubious technological claims. In the past, the government has been accused of funding questionable projects, including the infamous “diesel-from-rocks” scheme. Chikumbutso’s latest showcase appears to follow a similar pattern, raising concerns about the misuse of public funds and the credibility of those in power.
As the social media storm continues, one thing is clear: Maxwell Chikumbutso’s State House appearance has left many Zimbabweans questioning the integrity of their leaders and the legitimacy of the so-called “inventions” being paraded before them.