Pedzai Sakupwanya

He owns BetterBrands Jewellery which in 2018 sponsored Emmanuel Bako.^[2]

Education & Early Beginnings

He dropped out of school when he was in form 2 and started working as a gardener for a white couple.

The couple that employed him as a gardener operated a gold mine. They offered him an opportunity to work as a runner for them taking gold to the Government. Scott Sakupwanya then decided to branch out on his own.^[1]

Businesses

Sakupwanya owns BetterBrands Jewellery and BetterBrands Mining Company.^[2]

Pedzisai Scott Sakupwanya seen with gold bars and cash in pictures released in 2020

Appointments

In 2021 Scott Kupa was announced as the Chairperson of the Gold Buyers Association of Zimbabwe.^[1] On 28 March 2022, he was appointed Affirmative Action Group (AAG) President with immediate effect taking over from Mike Chimombe who was relieved of his duties.

Politics

On 28 July 2021, Pedzai "Scott" Sakupwanya was named as part of the Resource Mobilisation Committee which was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to raise funds for Zanu-PF’s activities including preparing for the 2023 elections. The committee was chaired by Phillip Chiyangwa. Other members of the committee apart from Pedzai Sakupwanya were, Anthony Pote, Zodwa Mkandla, Tafadzwa Musarara and Evaristo Mudhikwa.^[3]

On 26 March 2022, Sakupwanya was voted Mabvuku Ward 21 Councillor as a Zanu-PF candidate.^[4]

Alleged Mine Grab

In February 2021, ZimLive reported that Sakupwanya faced arrest after his Betterbrands Mining Company illegally snatched 132 gold mining blocks from Redwing Mine in Penhalonga in connivance with Redwing judicial manager, Cecil Madondo.

The matter came to light after another company, Probadek Investments, approached the police and the courts claiming that they had earlier entered into an agreement with Redwing through Madondo – who at the time was in remand prison facing charges of fraud over the Sakupwanya deal – to mine on the same blocks that were later awarded to Sakupwanya’s Betterbrands.

Probadek’s owners said they invested over US$300,000 as initial payments and were shocked Madondo signed a deal with Sakupwanya.

Probadek signed the joint venture with Redwing in October 2020, while Sakupwanya’s Betterbrands signed in December the same year, sparking a dispute on who between the two companies should mine at the disputed gold claims. Probadek reported the matter to the police for the arrest of Sakupwanya, but only his Chinese partner had been arrested.

The dispute reportedly attracted the attention of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit. According to the report, Betterbrands agreed to invest US$3 million, but the company paid US$50,000 to get the deal. The company was targeting paying off the remainder using proceeds from mining activities.^[5]

In December 2021, Scott Sakupwanya was kicked out of Redwing Ming Company. Rival miners, the surrounding community and local advocacy groups were accusing Sakupwanya of having become the law unto himself by terrorising competitors and defying the police for causing extensive environmental damage at Redwing.

They reported that Sakupwanya claimed that the mining concessions he was running in Penhalonga belonged to Emmerson Mnangagwa. A report said that the caretaker management at Redwing had resolved to stop Sakupwanya's Better Brands from operating at the goldfields.

In a letter dated 29 November 2021 that was addressed to Better Brands, Knowledge Hofisi, the Redwing interim corporate rescue manager, said he had replaced Sakupwanya’s company.

Duatlet Investments according to the report was set to partner with Redwing, a subsidiary of Metallon Corporation domiciled in the UK.^[6]

Meeting Floyd Mayweather

In May 2022, Sakupwanya met American boxer Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr in Dubai. Mayweather was with his former sparring partner Don Moore and were scheduled for their exhibition fight which was later cancelled last minute following the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates.

On 16 May 2022, images and videos of Sakupwanya with Mayweather Jr were shared on social media. Sakupwanya said he was in Dubai for a series of meetings with potential investors. He also said he had been invited by Floyd Mayweather himself to watch the exhibition fight.

Pedzai Sakupwanya told The Herald that he invited Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr and he agreed to visit Zimbabwe. He said that Mayweather Jr intended to invest in Africa including Zimbabwe.^[7]

Sakupwanya said Mayweather Jr made him a brand ambassador of his brand The Money Team (TMT).^[8]

Philanthropy

In 2020, Sakupwanya was pictured at State House after donating 100 tonnes of maize meal to Emmerson Mnangagwa to be distributed to vulnerable communities suffering the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic.^[5] Scott Sakupwanya is the president of youth empowerment advocacy group, Upfumi Kuvadiki.^[9]

Awards

On 29 March 2022, Scott Kupa was awarded with the Best Gold Buyer of the year at the Mining Industry Awards which were held at the State House.^[1]

Pindula Market

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References