From gold mining and arms trade to representation at UN conference. How two Belarusians conquer Zimbabwe

The material was prepared with the support of CyberPartisans.

The fact that Belarusian businessmen attended COP29 in Baku as Zimbabwean government representatives became known thanks to the UN data on conference attendees published on November 11. Both Aleksandr Zingman and Oleg Vodchits were part of the delegation of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife of this African state. [*]

Both businessmen have been mentioned in international scandals and journalistic investigations.

Gold, Arms, Belarus and Africa

Aleksandr Zingman, Honorary Consul of Zimbabwe in Belarus, has repeatedly appeared in media publications as a person with special connections in the government of that country. His name was mentioned in the context of the Zim Goldfields gold mining project, which drew journalists’ attention. This company has been repeatedly slammed for violating environmental regulations. In particular, according to The NewsHawks, mining operations took place in the Odzi River bed, which led to water pollution and cholera outbreaks. Locals and environmentalists claimed that Zim Goldfields was diverting the Mutare River, worsening environmental conditions in the region. In September 2020, the Zimbabwean government banned mining in the Mutare River, yet the company’s violations persisted, and scandals and complaints continued. [*]

Zim Goldfields worked with Chinese subcontractors who were brought in for development. Their activities, The NewHawks reported, resulted in large-scale public health problem. In the documents obtained from the Pandora Papers leak, journalists found information that offshore company was used to ensure Zingman’s participation in the project. The businessman himself denied this.

James Mupfumi, director of the Zimbabwe Centre for Research and Development, told the OCCRP that Zim Goldfields had been shielded from liability from the start of its mining operations.

“Even the local environmental agency were not allowed to conduct compliance issues,” says Mupfumi. “Despite govtban on riverbed mining Zimgoldfields retained exclusive rights to mine. So the relationship of that mining entity and government is self serving and has nothing to do with economic interests of Zimbabweans.”

Another company called Aftrade DMCC, associated with Aleksandr Zingman, is involved in major transactions between Belarus and African states. It supplies Belarusian equipment to African countries, including products from MAZ, MTZ, OAO Lidselmash, OAO Gomselmas and OAO Upravlyayuschaya Kompaniya Kholdinga Minskiy Motornyi Zavod. Aftrade DMCC entered into agreements to sell equipment from these companies at what some Zimbabwean media outlets reported were inflated prices. The amounts figured up to hundreds of millions of dollars. According to documents available to BIC, Zingman was the sole owner of Aftrade DMCC from 2019 to 2021. Whether he still owns the company at the time of publication is unknown to us.

The Zimbabwean president occasionally appears in photos with Zingman, sometimes in informal settings. This may be a sign of their close relationship.

According to The NewsHawks, Zingman’s business partner Oleg Vodchits was also involved in dubious transactions. In 2021, both were detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo after meeting with former President Joseph Kabila. Back then, they were suspected of illegal transactions related to arms trafficking. [*]

“The involvement of these two in the Zimbabwean delegation requires further investigation”

The invitation of Zingman and Vodchits to the climate summit has provoked a negative reaction from some experts and Zimbabwean politicians.

Zimbabwe Centre for Natural Resource Governance executive director Farai Maguwu says the incident cannot be left unaddressed.

“The involvement of the two in the Zim delegation warrants an investigation given their checkered history in Zimbabwe,which involves shoddy mining and arms deals. Zimbabwe has over and over again demonstrated an appetite for doing business with individuals and entities whose professional and business acumen is questionable,” Farai Maguwu told the OCCRP.

Zimbabwean politician Regai Tsunga told The NewsHawks journalist Owen Gagare that Zingman and Vodchits attending the conference was a treacherous move:

“Be that as it may, having Aleksandr Zingman and his business associate Oleg Vodchits listed as being a part and guest respectively, of the Ministry of Environment is clearly irregular and outrightly dishonest, insincere and clearly mischievous   conduct. It is a deliberate attempt to mislead key international audiences, stakeholders and indeed Zimbabwe citizens about the questionable,  destructive and unsustainable mining and other business models employed by companies in which they have interests or are "stockholders". This reflects negatively on the Zimbabwe Government and contributes to heightened perceptions of corruption at the top”.

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Sithembiso Nyoni did not respond to requests for comment.

“Zingman’s arrest was a politically motivated action”

We have reached out to Aleksandr Zingman and Oleg Vodchits for comment on their participation in COP29 and the related accusations. The request was answered by lawyer Daniel L. Delnero, partner at BGD Legal & Consulting LLC, representing the interests of Aleksandr Zingman:

“We offer the following response to the questions raised in your letter: Mr. Zingman attended COP29 in his role as Honorary Consul of Zimbabwe in Belarus. As part of this role, Mr. Zingman attends functions with and on behalf of Zimbabwe in CIS countries.

As has been previously reported, Zim Goldfields never became operational. The company was formally dissolved in 2020, and had only $100 in assets. Corporate records demonstrating the dissolution of Zim Goldfields are attached to this letter.

Mr. Zingman’s arrest in the DRC was politically motivated and, ultimately, he was cleared of any wrongdoing by DRC authorities after being detained and subjected to intense, unlawful interrogation for a two-week period. Mr. Zingman was not charged with any crimes and does not have any involvement with the arms trade or mining industry.

We hope this letter addresses your questions. We further caution you that any false or misleading

reports will be met with swift legal action and specifically reserve Mr. Zingman’s rights to pursue all legal remedies available to him.”

BIC journalists did not receive any documents from Delnero on the Zim Goldfields liquidation. The lawyer sent information on the liquidation of Midlands Goldfields Limited (MGL), the main co-founder of the Zimbabwean company. However, the fact that MGL was liquidated did not prevent Zim Goldfields from pursuing its operation in December 2023. It is significant that, back in the fall of 2021, in response to a request from journalists, Aftrade DMCC denied the connection of MGL with Aleksandr Zingman. [*]

In his second, clarifying response to the BIC, attorney Daniel L. Delnero kept insisting: “Mr. Zingman does not have any involvement with Zim Goldfields and, as such, does not have any knowledge of the company’s activity in 2023.”

Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) managing director Blessing Chitambira told our colleagues at The NewsHawks that “it is [Midlands Goldfields] still the [major] partner [with Zim Goldfields].”

When asked if he knew that MGL, the so-called main shareholder, was dissolved on September 22, 2020, Chitambira replied that the Belarusians are better positioned to respond to that.

The fact that Zim Goldfields LTD still operates in Zimbabwe may be further evidenced by the license for alluvial gold mining, obtained in July 2023. It is valid until July 2025. [*]

In his second letter to the BIC, Daniel L. Delnero, representing the interests of Aleksandr Zingman, clarified the role of Belarusian businessmen in the Zimbabwean delegation: they “offer advice and counsel to the Zimbabwe delegation regarding navigating the political and business environment of CIS countries. In this role, they attended COP29 in an advisory capacity to the Zimbabwe delegation.”

Check out our investigation “Fake “African” buses exposed: BIC unveils scheme to export MAZ vehicles to Togo via EU” which details how the activities of Belarusian businessmen impact the economies and ecologies of other countries.