Scott Sakupwanya: A Successful Gold Miner and Entrepreneur
Pedzisayi Scott Sakupwanya, sometimes called Scott Kupa, is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur, businessman and ZANU-PF politician. Scott is the founder of Better Brands Jewellery. He is known as the largest single gold buyer for Zimbabwe’s Fidelity Printers and Refineries in Zimbabwe. He reportedly employs over 4,000 artisanal miners in his business, which has grown steadily over the years.
Scott Sakupwanya Age & Date of Birth
The gold dealer celebrated his 44th birthday in March 2023. This means that he was born in 1979. However, his exact date of birth was noted directly stated.
Early Life
Scott’s childhood was difficult, having grown up in the ghetto of Mabvuku, Zimbabwe. His parents were not rich, and he dropped out of school in Form 2.
Education
Sakupwanya had a difficult time in school and struggled to achieve good grades. Despite his efforts, he failed his Grade 7 exams and had to repeat the year. Two years later, when he was in Form 2, he finally decided to quit school and pursue other opportunities.
Early Career
After leaving school, Sakupwanya started doing odd jobs including selling sweets and freezits, playing football for Black Rhinos juniors, hiring sneakers for basketball players, and washing and cleaning motorbikes at Donnybrook Race Course. He later worked as a garden boy for the Macmillan family, where he developed a passion for buying gold. Ewan Macmillan is alleged to be on of Zimbabwe’s most notorious gold smugglers.
Gold-Buying Business and Youth Empowerment
Scott eventually started his own gold-buying business with the help of Dr. Philip Chiyangwa after being inspired by the Macmillans. He grew his business from buying gold at a very small scale to become the largest single gold buyer for Fidelity Printers and Refineries in Zimbabwe.
He employs over 4,000 artisanal miners in his business, which has steadily grown over the years. Scott also founded Upfumi Kuvadiki, a youth empowerment advocacy group that helps young people start small-scale businesses.
Sakupwanya founded Better Brands, which eventually became the largest gold-buying company in Zimbabwe. He then started a borehole drilling company, which won a tender to drill boreholes worth millions of dollars. He has also formed Better Brands Construction, which is currently building cluster houses.
Collaboration with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Scott’s business breakthrough came when he started working with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe under the leadership of Dr Gideon Gono. Zimbabwe had just been placed under illegal sanctions by the West, and Scott played his part in serving and saving his country by utilizing its own resources.
Media Shy and Humble Lifestyle
Scott remains humble and media-shy, preferring to let his work speak for itself. He still drives modest vehicles and does not make much noise about his lifestyle. However, as a youthful businessman, he always dresses in trendy designer clothes.
Scott Sakupwanya [Image: Twitter/Pindula News]
Controversies
In 2020, Scott was in the eye of a storm when his pictures posing in front of about US$5 million cash and several kilogrammes of gold went viral on social media. He denied any wrongdoing, stating that he is a legit gold buyer with gold mines and a network of over 400 runners across Zimbabwe. He also sells the gold to Fidelity Printers and Refineries and has never smuggled gold outside the country.
Personal Life
Sakupwanya is unapologetic about his links to Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, and has expressed his desire to represent the party in parliament.
Awards and Recognition
Sakupwanya’s success in the gold mining industry has earned him recognition as one of the leading young businesspeople in Zimbabwe. He celebrated his 44th birthday in style at the five-star Meikles Hotel in Harare, where he was joined by high-profile guests, including Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Deputy Minister Tino Machakaire.
