Uebert Angel: Challenges in Diplomatic and Gold Ventures

Introduction: The Charlatan Behind Uebert Angel’s Holy Facade

Uebert Angel, born Uebert Mudzanire in 1978 in Zimbabwe, has mastered the art of exploiting faith for profit, cloaking his predatory schemes in the garb of divine authority. What began as a modest prayer group in 1996 ballooned into a global enterprise of fraud, with Angel’s Spirit Embassy—rebranded as Good News Church in 2015—serving as a front for fleecing desperate congregants through the prosperity gospel. Promising wealth in exchange for tithes, he built a media empire with Miracle TV, GoodNews TV, and Wow TV, broadcasting his manipulative sermons to a nation crippled by economic collapse. His books on wealth, Millionaire Academy seminars, and exorbitantly priced theology credentials—£499 for a certificate, £799 for a diploma—reveal a calculated grift targeting the impoverished with promises of divine riches.

Angel’s origin story, a supposed divine encounter under a “wild custard tree” bathed in “liquid love,” is a theatrical ploy to mesmerize followers, as touted on his church’s website. Yet, behind this spiritual veneer lies a man accused of fraud, sexual predation, and orchestrating multimillion-dollar gold smuggling operations, leveraging a 2021 diplomatic appointment to shield his crimes. From Zimbabwe to the UK, his trail of deception has sparked outrage, with Al Jazeera’s 2023 “Gold Mafia” exposé blowing the lid off his illicit empire. This investigative report dissects Uebert Angel’s fraudulent enterprises, from miracle money scams to state-backed smuggling, exposing a predator who thrives on the despair of the vulnerable while evading justice through political collusion.

The Miracle Money Sham: Exploiting Faith for Financial Gain

Angel’s rise to infamy in 2012 hinged on a grotesque spectacle: “miracle money,” where he claimed prophetic powers could materialize cash, gold, and diamonds in congregants’ pockets or bank accounts. Touring Africa, he staged dramatic performances—like a South African “weight loss miracle” where a man supposedly shed pounds overnight—to dazzle audiences into donating. These weren’t acts of faith; they were calculated cons to extract tithes from Zimbabwe’s impoverished, where over 70% live below the poverty line. In one notorious stunt, Angel claimed money appeared in a bank vault, a claim that prompted Zimbabwe’s central bank governor, Gideon Gono, to intervene in 2012, warning of monetary disruption. Though Gono found no legal breach, the episode exposed Angel’s reckless exploitation of economic desperation.

By 2018, Angel escalated with a “walk on water” stunt, later dismissed as a “faith demonstration” when skepticism mounted. Former UK congregants accused him in 2014 of fraud and money laundering, alleging he diverted church funds for personal luxuries—private jets, luxury cars, estates—while promising divine prosperity. These accusations, though not prosecuted, align with a pattern: Angel’s prosperity gospel is a predatory scheme, preying on believers’ hopes while funneling their donations into his lavish lifestyle. His retreats and merchandise sales further drain followers, with PayPal and Visa transactions ensuring a steady cash flow. For Zimbabweans facing hyperinflation, Angel’s miracles are a cruel mirage, deepening poverty under the guise of salvation.

Diplomatic Cover for Criminality: Angel’s State-Sanctioned Smuggling

In March 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Angel as Zimbabwe’s ambassador at large to Europe and the Americas, a move that stunned critics given his history of fraud allegations. This diplomatic role, complete with a passport offering immunity, transformed Angel into a state-backed operative, facilitating illicit deals under the pretense of national representation. Boasting direct access to Mnangagwa—whom he called “the king”—and ties to the president’s wife, Auxillia, and niece, Henrietta Rushwaya, Angel charged exorbitant fees to broker presidential meetings, bypassing cabinet oversight. Critics, including social scientist Tapuwa O’bren Nhachi, labeled him a “cunning, greedy” opportunist, unfit to elevate Zimbabwe’s tarnished global image.

This appointment wasn’t a reward for piety but a license for crime. Angel’s diplomatic status shielded his gold smuggling operations, as revealed in Al Jazeera’s 2023 “Gold Mafia” documentary. His role entrenched Zimbabwe’s reputation as a kleptocracy, where corrupt elites exploit national resources, deterring foreign investment and aid crucial for a nation grappling with economic ruin.

Gold Mafia Unveiled: Angel’s Central Role in Illicit Trade

Al Jazeera’s March 2023 exposé laid bare Angel’s linchpin status in a gold smuggling and money laundering syndicate bleeding Zimbabwe dry. Posing as Asian criminals, reporters captured Angel’s unguarded boasts: “You want gold, gold we can do it right now… I can have a bag with $1.2bn… with a red tape written diplomat.” He detailed operations moving hundreds of millions annually, implicating Rushwaya, state-owned Fidelity Printers and Refiners, and complicit airport officials. Zimbabwe’s artisanal miners, producing half of the nation’s $2 billion gold output, are forced into Angel’s network, selling at below-market rates while he smuggles via couriers like Kamlesh Pattni, laundering proceeds into clean U.S. dollars.

The Centre for Natural Resource Governance estimates $157 million in monthly gold leakages, funds that could rebuild Zimbabwe’s crumbling infrastructure but instead fuel Angel’s empire and prop up Mnangagwa’s regime. His confessions—”It will land in Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe can’t touch it until I get to my house”—reveal a system where diplomatic immunity facilitates grand larceny, exacerbating poverty and regional instability. The documentary’s fallout saw brief asset freezes in April 2023, swiftly reversed, signaling state complicity. Angel’s operations not only rob Zimbabwe but undermine global sanctions, enabling terror financing and arms trades through hawala networks.

Sexual Exploitation Under a Prophetic Mask

Angel’s moral bankruptcy extends to allegations of sexual predation, exploiting his spiritual authority to target vulnerable women. Verified digital records show him soliciting nude photos from a female congregant via Twitter and WhatsApp, dismissing exposure with a chilling retort: “Moral failure is not a crime.” Anonymous reports suggest a pattern of coerced encounters during global crusades, with victims silenced by fear of divine or social repercussions. In Zimbabwe, where gender-based violence is pervasive, Angel’s actions amplify trauma, weaponizing faith to manipulate and discard.

These allegations, coupled with his flippant defenses, expose a hypocrite who preaches purity while indulging in exploitation. His church’s culture of devotion creates a perfect storm for abuse, where questioning the prophet risks excommunication or spiritual condemnation.

Political Protection and Evasion of Justice

Angel’s impunity stems from his deep ties to Zimbabwe’s elite. Despite the “Gold Mafia” revelations, asset freezes were lifted by May 2023, and parliamentary probes were quashed by Speaker Jacob Mudenda. Angel’s lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, claimed he was part of a “classified intelligence operation,” a defense that collapses under his recorded boasts. Professor Stephen Chan calls this a corrupt nexus of “politics, economy, and worship,” where Angel’s leverage—potentially compromising information on elites—ensures his untouchability.

His UK base offers further insulation, though British inquiries into his activities signal growing pressure. Yet, Zimbabwe’s failure to prosecute underscores a systemic rot, where fraudsters like Angel thrive under state patronage, leaving victims without recourse.

Economic Sabotage and Global Repercussions

Angel’s smuggling empire doesn’t just enrich him; it cripples Zimbabwe’s economy. By diverting gold revenues, he fuels hyperinflation and food insecurity, with billions lost to public services. His hawala laundering bypasses financial oversight, enabling broader criminal networks. As an ambassador, he repels investors, deepening Zimbabwe’s isolation. Nhachi’s indictment is blunt: Angel is a “thug” cloaked in prophecy, part of a cabal impoverishing Africa while amassing personal wealth.

Conclusion: Dismantling Uebert Angel’s Deceptive Legacy

Uebert Angel’s career—from fake miracles to gold smuggling—embodies the dangers of unchecked fraud masquerading as faith. His exploitation of believers, plunder of national resources, and sexual predation reveal a predator shielded by political allies. As investigations intensify, the world must demand accountability, not just for Angel but for the corrupt system enabling him. Exposing his empire is the first step to restoring justice for Zimbabwe’s betrayed.

Written by

Nancy Drew

Updated

3 weeks ago