'CIO' on the run over Matabeleland Engineering case

The High Court of Zimbabwe has ordered Regis Maburutse, a suspected Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) impostor, to serve six months in prison for contempt of court after allegedly defying a prior order barring him from interfering in the affairs of Matabeleland Engineering.

The Sheriff is now reportedly seeking Maburutse for committal to Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Maburutse, who contested against Babra Rwodzi in the ZANU-PF 2023 primary elections, was initially ordered in August 2023 by High Court Judge Gladys Mhuri to cease interfering with the operations of Matabeleland Engineering after the court ruled he was not a director of the company.

Despite the order, Maburutse allegedly continued meddling in the company's affairs, prompting one of the directors, Tony Sarpo, to file a contempt of court application. The matter was heard by Justice Regis Dembure in September 2025.

Justice Dembure sentenced Maburutse to six months' imprisonment at Chikurubi. Maburutse appealed the ruling, and the matter was subsequently heard by Justice Never Katiyo, who upheld the original verdict and ordered that Maburutse be committed to prison.

According to court documents, Maburutse allegedly forged CR14 company registration documents to insert himself as a director of Matabeleland Engineering, removing Tony Sarpo from the records and leaving himself and Wayne Williams listed as directors.

The dispute dates back to 2016, when Maburutse allegedly began interfering in company operations, accusing Sarpo and his co-director Wayne Williams of mismanagement. Court filings further allege that Maburutse claimed to be from the President's Office and invoked the name of Emmerson Mnangagwa to assert influence.

Sarpo successfully challenged the changes in the High Court under case number HC 1324/17, obtaining both provisional and final orders confirming that Maburutse was not a director of the company.

Part of the contempt ruling reads:

"The first respondent be and is hereby committed to Chikurubi Maximum Prison for a period of six (6) months, all of which is suspended on condition that the first respondent shall immediately comply fully with the court order in Case No HC 1324/17."

The order also directed Maburutse to pay legal costs on a legal practitioner and client scale, while dismissing the application against Wayne Williams with costs.

Despite the court's directives, Maburutse allegedly continued presenting himself as a director to clients, banks and stakeholders in Harare and Bulawayo. Court documents state that he opened new bank accounts, sought to become a signatory to company accounts, and altered company signage — rebranding premises in Harare as "Zimbo Mining and Engineering" and in Bulawayo as "Lone Bull Ventures (Pvt) Ltd."

Sarpo again approached the High Court in August 2025 seeking a contempt ruling, resulting in the six-month sentence now upheld.

Authorities are expected to execute the warrant once Maburutse is located.