Zimbabwe’s Sungulani Maxwell Chikumbutso recently demonstrated what he claims to be revolutionary energy technology to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The demonstration featured an electric vehicle, reportedly a modified Chinese-manufactured car available on Alibaba, which Chikumbutso claims can run indefinitely without charging through his “Microsonic energy device.” This device, he says, converts radio frequencies into usable energy.
Chikumbutso’s claims have shifted over time. In 2013, he initially stated his device generated power “from air.” Now, he describes it as harnessing radio frequencies for energy production. He has said this technology can power various vehicles, including cars, helicopters, and bikes.
Ironically he has made these claims during a decade when Zimbabwe has faced and continues to experience a severe electricity crisis, with daily power outages exceeding 15 hours throughout the country.
Scientific and Legal Challenges
Chikumbutso acknowledges his invention allegedly violates fundamental laws of physics, specifically the laws of thermodynamics. When attempting to patent the technology, he reports being rejected on the grounds that it violated natural physical laws and lacked industrial applicability. Rather than addressing these scientific concerns, he says he opted to treat the technology as a trade secret.
His narrative includes a concerning account of attempted operations in Silicon Valley, where he alleges that he and a partner were poisoned due to their revolutionary discovery, resulting in his partner’s death. He claims this led to his return to Zimbabwe at the invitation of the president.
The Scientific Method Problem
It’s tempting for amateurs like me (and probably you the reader) to want to go into the science of energy and why Chikumbutso’s claims are impossible, or God-sent depending on the side you are. Ofcourse his claim has been proved to be false, but I think that would be going at the wrong issue altogether.
The core issue lies not in Chikumbutso’s claim of a revolutionary discovery – history shows breakthrough innovations can come from unexpected sources. Rather, the problem is his apparent rejection of the scientific method, which has been instrumental in validating every major technological advancement from telecommunications to aviation.
His association with Spiritage company from around 2013 framed his technologies as “spiritual gifts,” suggesting they transcend scientific explanation. That company, which bet significantly on his technologies, eventually went bankrupt. The spiritual angle to his technologies remains though. It’s reflected in his company name, Saith Technologies, derived from the biblical phrase “Thus Saith the Lord.”
While spiritual beliefs and scientific innovation aren’t mutually exclusive, verifiable scientific evidence is still crucial for technological claims.
Does Zimbabwe and Africa have a shortage of scientists?
Zimbabwe has numerous qualified scientists and IP lawyers, both domestically and in the diaspora, who could help evaluate these claims through proper scientific channels. A rigorous, transparent scientific validation process would better serve both Chikumbutso and Zimbabwe than presidential endorsements of unverified technologies.
The hallmark of legitimate scientific breakthrough is not just innovation but verifiability. If Chikumbutso’s technology functions as claimed, it could be validated while protecting his intellectual property rights through proper patents and peer review – standard practices that have successfully protected countless revolutionary innovations throughout history.
President Mnangagwa’s personal involvement means there’s politicization of unverified scientific claims. Despite Zimbabwe having access to globally recognized scientists and intellectual property experts who could facilitate proper scientific validation while protecting Chikumbutso’s interests, the demonstration bypassed traditional scientific scrutiny in favor of political endorsement.
This situation, unfortunately, bears uncomfortable similarities to the “Dhiziri paChinhoyi” episode during Robert Mugabe’s presidency, where unverified scientific claims received presidential endorsement, ultimately damaging national credibility.
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