31/01/2025
In an unexpected turn of events, Maxwell Sangulani Chikumbutso, a Zimbabwean known for his controversial claims of inventions, has been revealed to have a dark past linked to an armed robbery case from 2018.
Chikumbutso, who has made headlines for his alleged innovations including vehicles powered by radio waves and other renewable energy technologies, was arrested in 2018 on six counts of armed robbery alongside five accomplices. The case brought to light when Chikumbutso was showcased before President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House to exhibit his so-called groundbreaking inventions.
According to sources, the State had opposed Chikumbutso's bail, arguing that one of the fi****ms recovered by the police following the robbery at Murefu Service Station in Waterfalls, Harare, was linked to him. This firearm was found in the vehicle of a co-accused, who claimed Chikumbutso had left it behind after receiving a lift. Despite his claims of innocence and assertions of being a successful entrepreneur pioneering new technology, Justice Foroma denied him bail, citing concerns about the legitimacy of the firearm and its connection to the crime.
The trial resumed in 2021, but by then, the dynamics had changed with two of Chikumbutso's accomplices, Harmony Nyati and Polite Madamombe, having passed away. This left only three suspects: Austin Ncube, Wisdom Tariro, and Godfrey Josi, to face charges related to the robbery.
The revelation of Chikumbutso's criminal past has sparked intense backlash on social media platforms, with many questioning the credibility of his inventions. Critics have pointed out that vehicles showcased by Chikumbutso at State House appeared to be manufactured in China, casting further doubt on his claims of pioneering technology.