Fugitive Chinese national accused of smear campaign after fleeing Zimbabwe theft charges

GWERU - A Chinese national who fled Zimbabwe while facing theft charges is now accused of orchestrating a cross-border smear campaign aimed at discrediting his former business partners and destabilising a multimillion-dollar mining venture.

Xu Zhixue, formerly employed by Podhill (Private) Limited, reportedly escaped to China earlier this year after being released on summons by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Gweru. He had been arrested for allegedly stealing nearly US$4,800 from the company's Standard Chartered Bank account, under case number RRB 248/03/25.

Police sources confirmed that Xu failed to appear in court and vanished shortly after his release. His name resurfaced recently in connection with what insiders describe as a "well-orchestrated campaign" to damage the reputation of Podhill's majority shareholder, Generous Resources (Pvt) Ltd, and its chairman.

Investigations suggest the fallout between Xu, his uncle Li Yajun, and the company's leadership triggered a bitter feud. Xu and Li allegedly fabricated documents claiming Podhill smuggled over 120 kilograms of gold - worth nearly US$10 million - out of Zimbabwe. The documents, reportedly AI-generated to appear authentic, were circulated online and picked up by sections of the local media.

However, a preliminary inquiry by law enforcement found no evidence of such a smuggling operation.

Podhill is a joint venture between Generous Resources (60%) and Milhub (Pvt) Ltd (40%), whose principal shareholders - Mohamad Taleb and Mohamad Karim - are Australian nationals with long-standing business interests in Zimbabwe.

Speaking to Bulawayo24.com, Taleb expressed concern over the reputational and financial damage caused by the false allegations.

"I've invested in Zimbabwe for over 20 years, creating jobs and supporting development. It's heartbreaking to see malicious lies spread by individuals who once benefited from this partnership," he said.

"The false story has disrupted operations and shaken investor confidence. Our shareholders are innocent, yet we're now forced to repair the damage caused by a fugitive settling old scores."

The controversy has sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe's mining sector, with stakeholders warning that such disinformation could deter foreign investment.

An official from the Ministry of Mines, speaking anonymously, confirmed that authorities are monitoring the situation and working with international law enforcement to track Xu's activities abroad.

"This is a clear case of a disgruntled individual weaponising fake information. We're treating it seriously because it tarnishes Zimbabwe's mining reputation," the official said.

Police say Xu Zhixue remains a wanted person and may face additional charges related to cyber defamation and the dissemination of falsified information.