Police in Matabeleland North Province have refused to sanction a protest by villagers from Inyathi during controversial businessman Francesco Marconati’s court appearance tomorrow on charges of possession of guns without a license.
Marconati (66), who was arrested on December 19 and denied bail by the Inyathi magistrates’ court and Bulawayo High Court before he was released by the Supreme Court last week, owns gold mines in Bubi district.
He was arrested after a guard at his Duration Gold Limited (DGL) Mine Mbekezeli Ngwabi opened fire on a group of villagers, killing one man.
The villagers approached Inyathi police seeking permission to stage the protests, accusing Marconati and his employees of terrorising them while enjoying the protection of law enforcement agents.
According to the villagers, the protest was initially sanctioned by the police but to their surprise the permission was withdrawn when the officer commanding Inyathi police called a community meeting on Friday.
“The Dispol told us that if we are allowed to protest we will film the proceedings and if they go viral, it will give the impression to the international community that Zimbabwe is mistreating foreign investors,” a villager said.
Marconati, who has businesses in Marondera and a lodge at Mana Pools, has an Italian background.
In a letter signed by the local Zanu PF coordinator and received by a police officer only identified as Maganga, the villagers said they were still mourning the man shot by the DGL guard and the alleged torture of locals by Marconati’s employees.
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“The incident left the community with bleeding hearts, making it difficult to forgive following the loss of one of our sons,” read part of the letter. “There are so many incidences of threats to the community despite reports made to the police to no avail.
“We hereby advise that the community of Inyathi shall be attending the court session on the 5th of January 2026 at the Inyathi courts.
“We wish to register our displeasure and solidarity with the court proceedings for justice.
“The loss of life will never be recovered. We further advise that the majority of the community shall be wearing t-shirts as we continue to mourn and discourage the killing of humanity as if we are in Ukraine and Russia. “
Some of the villagers said they would go ahead with the protests because it was their constitutional right.
“The protest is going ahead. You will see me there. I will lead it. Enough is enough,” one of the villagers said.
“Why are they always protecting Marconati? If we report cases against him, he is not arrested or will be arrested later under pressure, but if he reports anyone, they will be arrested immediately.
“We know some are being given money, and we cannot sit back while the villagers suffer.”
In December 2024, villagers wrote a protest letter claiming that Marconati was operating with impunity in the Inyathi area. The businessman is not new to controversy.
In 2024, he was convicted on three counts of fraud after he was accused of abusing Eagle Italian Shoes money to pay the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority for his Mana Pools Safari Lodge Investments Lease.
During the same year he was sentenced to 105 hours of community services together with his son Alasendro after he threatened his ex-business partner Li Song. At the time Inyathi villagers accused him of using his workers to perform the community service.
Marconati was also convicted of fraud after he submitted fake compay registration forms, which were never registered with the Deeds Office, to several banks.
