MNANGAGWA SMUGGLES WEAPONS TO DRC
By Peter Bolder in Harare
7NN Special Assignment
Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa has been implicated in arms smuggling to abet the ongoing deadly civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In exchange for shipping arms to various factions of the DRC war and to government forces, Mnangagwa gets access to diamonds, tantlite, timber and other resources.
Congolese civilians are bracing themselves for further attacks after major supplies of tank missiles and firearms were delivered by Belarus recently, through Harare.
A 7NN investigation found that
the Zimbabwean president is part of a major international weapons smuggling ring operated by Belarus president Alexander Lukaszenko, using a firm called AFTRADE. Lukaszenko’s henchman, Aleksandr Zingman is the direct link with Mnangagwa.
For business purposes, Zingman works with Mnangagwa’s son, Emmerson Mnangagwa Jnr. Flight records seen by 7NN show that Zingman flew Mnangagwa Jr and his wife Leya to Minsk on his luxury jet for one business meeting. Mnangagwa Jr operates Ningi Motors and other front companies used to facilitate Lukaszenko’s gun-running.
Weapons, including rifles and missiles were shipped to Zimbabwe through Mozambique, disguised as cargoes of ‘agricultural equipment’. They were then traced to Harare airport before they found their way to DRC, satellite images and flight records show.
ARREST
In mid-May 2026, Mnangagwa suddenly flew to Minsk where he met Lukaszenko. Two days earlier, the Zimbabwean leader had been seen inside the gold vaults of the central Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Speculation was rife that Mnangagwa’s unusual bank visit was to collect gold that was stolen and later delivered to Lukaszenko. Mnangagwa did not address the gold-for-weapons allegations in a later interview.
He said he was not obliged to reveal details of what he termed a ‘private visit’, even though state resources had been used.
ARREST
Mnangagwa’s DRC military adventures were first ex