Scott Sakupwanya Biography

Background

Born around 1979 or 1980, Sakupwanya grew up in the high-density suburb of Mabvuku in Harare. He faced a challenging environment in his youth and eventually dropped out of school during his Form 2 year. Eager to earn an income, he entered the workforce at just 14 years old, taking on various odd jobs such as selling sweets, selling vegetables by the roadside, and working as a gardener. His employers at the time operated a gold mine and offered him an opportunity to work as a "runner," taking their gold to the government. This early exposure ignited his passion for the gold trade and prompted him to branch out on his own.

Business Career

Today, Sakupwanya is the founder and CEO of Better Brands, a leading gold-buying and mining company in Zimbabwe. His company quickly grew to become the single largest gold buyer for Zimbabwe's state-owned Fidelity Printers and Refineries, employing over 4,000 artisanal miners across the country. By 2022, Better Brands was operating at a massive scale, reportedly delivering over 18 tons of gold valued at $1.1 billion.

Beyond raw gold buying, he expanded his operations by acquiring the Redwing Mine in Manicaland in 2018 and completing the construction of a gold refinery in 2024. He has also diversified his portfolio into construction and borehole drilling, and he owns two football clubs: Scottland F.C., which plays in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League, and N’ombeyaora in the Northern Region Division One.

Political Ascent and Controversies

Sakupwanya's business success has run parallel to his rise in politics as a member of the ruling ZANU-PF party. In March 2022, he was elected as the councillor for Mabvuku-Tafara's Ward 21. Leveraging his wealth to fund party activities, he later secured the parliamentary seat for the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency.

However, his ascent has been clouded by serious allegations. His flagship operation, the Redwing Mine, has faced fierce criticism from trade unions and advocacy groups over unsafe working conditions, environmental damage, and multiple worker fatalities. In 2021, another company also accused Better Brands of illegally snatching mining blocks at Redwing in connivance with a judicial manager.

Internationally, Sakupwanya was thrust into the spotlight by the 2023 Al Jazeera Gold Mafia documentary, which alleged he was a key player in illicit gold smuggling networks designed to evade sanctions and launder money through offshore accounts. Domestically, critics have accused him of using his immense wealth for vote buying during his lavish 2023 election campaign.

Philanthropy

Despite his polarizing public image, Sakupwanya remains a significant philanthropic figure in his community. He founded the Scott Sakupwanya Foundation, which has funded local initiatives, including a $75,000 donation to cover school fees and skills training in his constituency.

In March 2025, he opened the Scottland Medical Centre & Maternity in Mabvuku, a facility offering free medical services to pregnant women, the elderly, and vulnerable patients. Additionally, during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, he donated 100 tonnes of maize meal to assist vulnerable communities.

Scott Sakupwanya is ranked among the top 50 richest people in Zimbabwe list.