Opinion / Columnist
Edmund Kudzayi responds to Kenneth Sharpe accusations
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Statement in Response to False Accusations by Mr Kenneth Sharpe (recordings in tweet below)
It has come to my attention that Mr Kenneth Sharpe has fabricated allegations of extortion against me, falsely claiming that a payment of USD 24,344 made over a year ago constitutes extortion. These claims are not only absurd and baseless but are transparently calculated to undermine my credibility and obstruct my ongoing investigative series exposing Mr Sharpe's alleged misuse of state institutions, corrupt legal manoeuvres, and extraordinary record of 40 uninterrupted court victories - a record that warrants closer scrutiny.
As will become apparent upon reviewing the communications I am providing, as well as the explanation in this statement, these allegations are, to put it bluntly, idiotic. Even a trainee police officer would dismiss such nonsense. The only reason any officer would pursue such a case is if they had been compromised and were acting under the employ of Mr Sharpe. The allegations defy reason; they sully the reputation of the police and cheapen us as a people.
Far from being a victim, Mr Sharpe has demonstrated a consistent pattern of abusing his influence to silence critics, weaponise institutions, and evade accountability. This statement not only refutes his allegations but also sheds light on the methods he employs to intimidate those who expose him.
40 Victories: A Record That Defies Credulity
Central to my investigation is Mr Sharpe's improbable record of 40 consecutive victories in Zimbabwean courts - achieved not through substantive merits but by exploiting legal technicalities and allegedly corrupting judicial processes. My series interrogates how dissolved entities like Augur Investments OU - which ceased to exist in 2021 - have been fraudulently used to litigate cases, securing judgments for non-existent entities. Such practices undermine the rule of law and demand full public disclosure.
A Timeline of Events: The Truth About the Payment
Engagement and Payment
In 2022, Mr Sharpe engaged my services for professional work amounting to over USD 160,000. Despite my fulfilment of the agreed services, Mr Sharpe delayed payment for over a year. By March 2023, I agreed to accept a discounted settlement of USD 24,344 to resolve the matter amicably. The payment process dragged on for over a week, during which I consistently maintained that the funds were owed for work already completed and that any future decision to write about Mr Sharpe remained solely at my discretion. My silence was not for sale. It was particularly unethical for Mr Sharpe to attempt to withhold what was rightfully mine in exchange for a commitment not to report on him - an implication so extreme that, if taken to its logical conclusion, would suggest I should remain silent even in the face of severe wrongdoing.
Eventually, his lawyers presented a third draft of a purported mutual settlement agreement. By the time I signed it, it was evident that the document held no legal force, given the circumstances of duress and issues of consideration, as outlined in my recent letter to his lawyers. The agreement, while executed, did not alter the fundamental reality that the payment was made for services rendered and not as a condition for silence. By signing the agreement, I allowed Mr Sharpe to believe he had secured my silence. Perhaps my gravest misstep - the sin for which I am now being punished - is that I let him bask in this illusion of victory. In truth, I merely leveraged his own ignorance against him, using his insatiable greed as the rope with which he now hangs himself. There is no rage quite like that of a conman who realises, too late, that he has outwitted himself. It is a peculiar trait of thieves, criminals, and other schemers that they loathe nothing more than being bested by someone they assumed to be a mark - especially when they fail to recognise it until it is far too late. The petty fury that now drives his every move is the tantrum of a swindler whose own cunning has been turned against him. That, it seems, is the true source of his present rampage.
Moreover, in their cease-and-desist letter of 30 January 2024, Mr Sharpe's lawyers explicitly demanded a refund of the USD 24,344 - an outright contradiction of their extortion claim. Since when do extortionists issue refunds? Refunds are issued for legitimate business transactions, not for coerced payments. This demand exposes the absurdity of their allegation and confirms that the payment was made as part of an ordinary business arrangement.
The Illusion of Silence
By feigning compliance, I allowed Mr Sharpe to believe he had neutralised my capacity to report on him. Far from being muzzled, I had simply turned his greed into the rope with which he would later hang himself. The payment was for services duly rendered, but his insistence on tying it to a demand for silence revealed both his ethical deficits and his hubris. It was a gamble he believed he had won - until late January 2025, when he discovered that I was launching a public investigative series into his dubious "40 uninterrupted court victories."
Alarmed by my imminent exposé, Mr Sharpe's lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter on 30 January 2025, alleging I had breached the so-called settlement agreement and demanding a refund of the USD 24,344. Since when do extortionists offer refunds? This glaring contradiction proves that Mr Sharpe's initial position was that the payment was a contractual matter—contrary to his subsequent claims of "extortion." I replied robustly on 4 February 2025, dismantling their arguments and making it clear that the agreement was invalid and voidable for lack of consideration and duress. His lawyers went silent immediately thereafter, evidently realising that their contractual approach was doomed.
Retaliation and Fabricated Claims
Having failed to secure my silence at risk of refund under the guise of breach of contract, Mr Sharpe then turned to an even more absurd claim: that the same payment was the product of extortion. This pivot - from ordinary civil dispute to criminal allegations - lays bare the fraudulent nature of his case. The police, had they not been compromised, would dismiss such a flimsy charge outright. Mr Sharpe further claims that I introduced him to a business partner of mine. When and where did this introduction take place? It simply did not happen. I introduced him to no one. If he established any connections, he did so of his own volition.
In fact, Sharpe blocked me in 2024 after I confronted him about his deception regarding his relationship with Chombo. I made it clear that his act of misleading me into assisting him under false pretenses was unacceptable and that my response would be forceful. Given that I have been blocked for this entire period, how could I have introduced him to anyone? This allegation is not just false - it is an outrage. The police must state, in their official documents, when and how such an introduction allegedly occurred. They cannot, because it never happened.
Equally spurious is the police's claim that I am "on the run." They made no effort to contact me before proclaiming I was "at large" in court documents - at which point certain media outlets parroted this defamatory fiction without seeking my comment. Only after the media fanfare did the police approach me, a sequence of events that betrays their real motive: to discredit me publicly before even attempting any formal inquiry.
Abuse of Institutions: The Police, Presidency, and Media
Manipulating the President's Office
In a recent and brazen move, Mr Sharpe orchestrated the inclusion of one of his properties on the President's itinerary, giving the false impression of high-level association and endorsement. This not only serves as a façade of approval but also discourages ethical police officers from investigating him, fearing that they would be indirectly questioning the Presidency.
There is no indication the President himself is complicit in these schemes; rather, unscrupulous figures around Mr Sharpe appear to have manipulated the presidential schedule for Sharpe's personal gain.
Such reckless exploitation of the highest office reveals a staggering lack of decency - and a telling lack of fear of repercussions.
Weaponising the Police
Mr Sharpe's allegations of extortion also fit a broader strategy of using corrupt elements within the police to fabricate cases against critics. Legitimate law enforcement is thereby corrupted, and public confidence in the police is undermined. Reports suggest he employs intermediaries - such as Advocate Zhuwarara and Michael Chideme - to lure individuals into contrived "negotiations," complete with offers to pay for flights and other expenses, purely to create a false paper trail of extortion. The question is obvious: what genuine victim of extortion pays to facilitate the extortionist's travel?
Media Collusion and Manipulation
Equally revealing is how certain state and private media outlets echoed Mr Sharpe's claims without verifying the facts or granting me a right of reply. ZBC and The Herald announced I was "on the run," evidently repeating the police narrative verbatim. By contrast, ZimLive and Nehanda Radio sought my comment and published it - demonstrating the journalistic integrity that the others blatantly disregarded. This selective reporting is central to Mr Sharpe's playbook: monopolise the narrative before any contradictory information emerges.
The Katsimberis Case: A Pattern of Corruption
Mr Sharpe's modus operandi is starkly illustrated by the experiences of Greek businessman George Katsimberis, who was accused - quite improbably - of building without permits. Evidence indicates that Mr Katsimberis did, in fact, possess valid permits. Yet Mr Sharpe allegedly colluded with city officials to retrospectively invalidate them, ordered the demolition of Mr Katsimberis's developments, and seized control of the project. The parallels with my own situation are unmistakable: any challenge to Mr Sharpe's dealings is met with a flurry of fabricated allegations, swift legal manoeuvres, and apparent complicity by select authorities.
Commitment to Transparency and Accountability
I will not be silenced. My investigative series will continue to expose the truth, regardless of the consequences:
1. Expose the misuse of defunct entities, such as Augur Investments OU, for fraudulent litigation.
2. Uncover systemic corruption, including bribery and undue influence within police and judicial systems.
3. Amplify the voices of victims who have suffered under Mr Sharpe's schemes.
Despite the usual norms of propriety, I am compelled to release private communications to counter these fabricated claims and ensure the public understands the truth.
Attachments
1. Transcript and Video Screengrab of 7 March 2024 Audio Message to Mr Sharpe
2. 13 March 2024 Communication to Chief Operating Officer Kerry-Leigh Stubbs
3. Cease-and-Desist Letter (30 January 2025) and My Response (4 February 2025)
Edmund Kudzayi
Investigative Journalist
This statement is part of a multi-part series investigating Mr Sharpe's alleged corruption and the misuse of state institutions in Zimbabwe.
It has come to my attention that Mr Kenneth Sharpe has fabricated allegations of extortion against me, falsely claiming that a payment of USD 24,344 made over a year ago constitutes extortion. These claims are not only absurd and baseless but are transparently calculated to undermine my credibility and obstruct my ongoing investigative series exposing Mr Sharpe's alleged misuse of state institutions, corrupt legal manoeuvres, and extraordinary record of 40 uninterrupted court victories - a record that warrants closer scrutiny.
As will become apparent upon reviewing the communications I am providing, as well as the explanation in this statement, these allegations are, to put it bluntly, idiotic. Even a trainee police officer would dismiss such nonsense. The only reason any officer would pursue such a case is if they had been compromised and were acting under the employ of Mr Sharpe. The allegations defy reason; they sully the reputation of the police and cheapen us as a people.
Far from being a victim, Mr Sharpe has demonstrated a consistent pattern of abusing his influence to silence critics, weaponise institutions, and evade accountability. This statement not only refutes his allegations but also sheds light on the methods he employs to intimidate those who expose him.
40 Victories: A Record That Defies Credulity
Central to my investigation is Mr Sharpe's improbable record of 40 consecutive victories in Zimbabwean courts - achieved not through substantive merits but by exploiting legal technicalities and allegedly corrupting judicial processes. My series interrogates how dissolved entities like Augur Investments OU - which ceased to exist in 2021 - have been fraudulently used to litigate cases, securing judgments for non-existent entities. Such practices undermine the rule of law and demand full public disclosure.
A Timeline of Events: The Truth About the Payment
Engagement and Payment
In 2022, Mr Sharpe engaged my services for professional work amounting to over USD 160,000. Despite my fulfilment of the agreed services, Mr Sharpe delayed payment for over a year. By March 2023, I agreed to accept a discounted settlement of USD 24,344 to resolve the matter amicably. The payment process dragged on for over a week, during which I consistently maintained that the funds were owed for work already completed and that any future decision to write about Mr Sharpe remained solely at my discretion. My silence was not for sale. It was particularly unethical for Mr Sharpe to attempt to withhold what was rightfully mine in exchange for a commitment not to report on him - an implication so extreme that, if taken to its logical conclusion, would suggest I should remain silent even in the face of severe wrongdoing.
Eventually, his lawyers presented a third draft of a purported mutual settlement agreement. By the time I signed it, it was evident that the document held no legal force, given the circumstances of duress and issues of consideration, as outlined in my recent letter to his lawyers. The agreement, while executed, did not alter the fundamental reality that the payment was made for services rendered and not as a condition for silence. By signing the agreement, I allowed Mr Sharpe to believe he had secured my silence. Perhaps my gravest misstep - the sin for which I am now being punished - is that I let him bask in this illusion of victory. In truth, I merely leveraged his own ignorance against him, using his insatiable greed as the rope with which he now hangs himself. There is no rage quite like that of a conman who realises, too late, that he has outwitted himself. It is a peculiar trait of thieves, criminals, and other schemers that they loathe nothing more than being bested by someone they assumed to be a mark - especially when they fail to recognise it until it is far too late. The petty fury that now drives his every move is the tantrum of a swindler whose own cunning has been turned against him. That, it seems, is the true source of his present rampage.
Moreover, in their cease-and-desist letter of 30 January 2024, Mr Sharpe's lawyers explicitly demanded a refund of the USD 24,344 - an outright contradiction of their extortion claim. Since when do extortionists issue refunds? Refunds are issued for legitimate business transactions, not for coerced payments. This demand exposes the absurdity of their allegation and confirms that the payment was made as part of an ordinary business arrangement.
The Illusion of Silence
By feigning compliance, I allowed Mr Sharpe to believe he had neutralised my capacity to report on him. Far from being muzzled, I had simply turned his greed into the rope with which he would later hang himself. The payment was for services duly rendered, but his insistence on tying it to a demand for silence revealed both his ethical deficits and his hubris. It was a gamble he believed he had won - until late January 2025, when he discovered that I was launching a public investigative series into his dubious "40 uninterrupted court victories."
Alarmed by my imminent exposé, Mr Sharpe's lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter on 30 January 2025, alleging I had breached the so-called settlement agreement and demanding a refund of the USD 24,344. Since when do extortionists offer refunds? This glaring contradiction proves that Mr Sharpe's initial position was that the payment was a contractual matter—contrary to his subsequent claims of "extortion." I replied robustly on 4 February 2025, dismantling their arguments and making it clear that the agreement was invalid and voidable for lack of consideration and duress. His lawyers went silent immediately thereafter, evidently realising that their contractual approach was doomed.
Retaliation and Fabricated Claims
Having failed to secure my silence at risk of refund under the guise of breach of contract, Mr Sharpe then turned to an even more absurd claim: that the same payment was the product of extortion. This pivot - from ordinary civil dispute to criminal allegations - lays bare the fraudulent nature of his case. The police, had they not been compromised, would dismiss such a flimsy charge outright. Mr Sharpe further claims that I introduced him to a business partner of mine. When and where did this introduction take place? It simply did not happen. I introduced him to no one. If he established any connections, he did so of his own volition.
In fact, Sharpe blocked me in 2024 after I confronted him about his deception regarding his relationship with Chombo. I made it clear that his act of misleading me into assisting him under false pretenses was unacceptable and that my response would be forceful. Given that I have been blocked for this entire period, how could I have introduced him to anyone? This allegation is not just false - it is an outrage. The police must state, in their official documents, when and how such an introduction allegedly occurred. They cannot, because it never happened.
Equally spurious is the police's claim that I am "on the run." They made no effort to contact me before proclaiming I was "at large" in court documents - at which point certain media outlets parroted this defamatory fiction without seeking my comment. Only after the media fanfare did the police approach me, a sequence of events that betrays their real motive: to discredit me publicly before even attempting any formal inquiry.
Abuse of Institutions: The Police, Presidency, and Media
Manipulating the President's Office
In a recent and brazen move, Mr Sharpe orchestrated the inclusion of one of his properties on the President's itinerary, giving the false impression of high-level association and endorsement. This not only serves as a façade of approval but also discourages ethical police officers from investigating him, fearing that they would be indirectly questioning the Presidency.
There is no indication the President himself is complicit in these schemes; rather, unscrupulous figures around Mr Sharpe appear to have manipulated the presidential schedule for Sharpe's personal gain.
Such reckless exploitation of the highest office reveals a staggering lack of decency - and a telling lack of fear of repercussions.
Weaponising the Police
Mr Sharpe's allegations of extortion also fit a broader strategy of using corrupt elements within the police to fabricate cases against critics. Legitimate law enforcement is thereby corrupted, and public confidence in the police is undermined. Reports suggest he employs intermediaries - such as Advocate Zhuwarara and Michael Chideme - to lure individuals into contrived "negotiations," complete with offers to pay for flights and other expenses, purely to create a false paper trail of extortion. The question is obvious: what genuine victim of extortion pays to facilitate the extortionist's travel?
Media Collusion and Manipulation
Equally revealing is how certain state and private media outlets echoed Mr Sharpe's claims without verifying the facts or granting me a right of reply. ZBC and The Herald announced I was "on the run," evidently repeating the police narrative verbatim. By contrast, ZimLive and Nehanda Radio sought my comment and published it - demonstrating the journalistic integrity that the others blatantly disregarded. This selective reporting is central to Mr Sharpe's playbook: monopolise the narrative before any contradictory information emerges.
The Katsimberis Case: A Pattern of Corruption
Mr Sharpe's modus operandi is starkly illustrated by the experiences of Greek businessman George Katsimberis, who was accused - quite improbably - of building without permits. Evidence indicates that Mr Katsimberis did, in fact, possess valid permits. Yet Mr Sharpe allegedly colluded with city officials to retrospectively invalidate them, ordered the demolition of Mr Katsimberis's developments, and seized control of the project. The parallels with my own situation are unmistakable: any challenge to Mr Sharpe's dealings is met with a flurry of fabricated allegations, swift legal manoeuvres, and apparent complicity by select authorities.
Commitment to Transparency and Accountability
I will not be silenced. My investigative series will continue to expose the truth, regardless of the consequences:
1. Expose the misuse of defunct entities, such as Augur Investments OU, for fraudulent litigation.
2. Uncover systemic corruption, including bribery and undue influence within police and judicial systems.
3. Amplify the voices of victims who have suffered under Mr Sharpe's schemes.
Despite the usual norms of propriety, I am compelled to release private communications to counter these fabricated claims and ensure the public understands the truth.
Attachments
1. Transcript and Video Screengrab of 7 March 2024 Audio Message to Mr Sharpe
2. 13 March 2024 Communication to Chief Operating Officer Kerry-Leigh Stubbs
3. Cease-and-Desist Letter (30 January 2025) and My Response (4 February 2025)
Statement in Response to False Accusations by Mr Kenneth Sharpe (recordings in tweet below)
— Edmund Kudzayi (@EdmundKudzayi) February 12, 2025
It has come to my attention that Mr Kenneth Sharpe has fabricated allegations of extortion against me, falsely claiming that a payment of USD 24,344 made over a year ago constitutes… pic.twitter.com/H3yc5ZEYTG
Edmund Kudzayi
Investigative Journalist
This statement is part of a multi-part series investigating Mr Sharpe's alleged corruption and the misuse of state institutions in Zimbabwe.
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