HARARE – Controversial Zanu-PF activist and businessman Acie Lumumba has ignited fresh debate within political circles after publicly criticising socialite Pokello Nare, while also making unsubstantiated claims linking gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya to drug trafficking.
In a video that has since circulated widely on social media, Lumumba questioned what he described as a growing culture of entitlement within the ruling party, singling out individuals he claims benefit from Zanu-PF without making meaningful contributions.
Turning his focus to Pokello, who is married to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son, Emmerson Junior, Lumumba argued that her prominence and lavish lifestyle stand in sharp contrast to what he sees as her lack of political or organisational involvement.
He suggested that her public image — marked by luxury travel, designer fashion, and curated social media content — echoes the excesses once associated with former First Lady Grace Mugabe, who earned the nickname “Gucci Grace” during her time at the centre of power.
According to Lumumba, Pokello symbolises what he called an “extraction economy”, where individuals draw benefits from the party without strengthening its structures, mobilising supporters, or investing in its future voter base. While stressing that her lifestyle is not illegal, he argued that its symbolism fuels public resentment at a time of economic hardship.
Lumumba further claimed that Pokello represents a new generation of beneficiaries who, in his view, enjoy the rewards of political proximity after the groundwork has already been done by others.
In the same broadcast, Lumumba turned his attention to Sakupwanya, alleging — without providing evidence — that the businessman is connected to the influx of illegal drugs into Zimbabwe. Despite the seriousness of the claim, Lumumba appeared to draw a distinction, stating that he tolerates Sakupwanya’s presence within Zanu-PF because, in his assessment, the businessman gives back to the party as much as he benefits from it.
Sakupwanya has not responded publicly to the allegations at the time of writing.
The remarks have sparked mixed reactions online, with some viewers praising Lumumba for speaking candidly about internal contradictions within Zanu-PF, while others criticised his comments as reckless, defamatory, and deeply personal.
