In a series of shocking events that reveal the depths of corruption and the lengths some will go to in pursuit of power, Francesco Marconati, a self-styled Italian mafia figure, has been unmasked as the mastermind behind a sinister plot to ruin the lives of his business partners and seize control of a thriving enterprise. This is the story of greed, betrayal, and a relentless pursuit of power that has left a trail of destruction in its wake.
It all began in 2019, when DGL Investment Number Nine Pvt Limited, a Zimbabwean company, was led by two directors, John Muir and Li Song. By September 2020, the seemingly peaceful business partnership took a dark turn. John Muir resigned, and Marconati was appointed as a director, swiftly gaining a 51% share in the company, with Li Song holding the remaining 49%. This change marked the beginning of Marconati’s calculated and malicious campaign against his co-director, Li Song.
The first sign of trouble came in 2022 when Curechem, a supplier, shipped a consignment of chemicals destined for Queens Mine. Under Marconati’s direction, an associate, Langton Mharira, instructed the supplier to hold off on the delivery, claiming further instructions were forthcoming. But in a shocking twist, Marconati then went to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), falsely accusing Li Song of externalizing company funds under the guise of purchasing these very chemicals.
The CID, acting on Marconati’s false report, arrested Li Song in Bulawayo while she was in a meeting with investors. She was subjected to a humiliating ordeal, as Marconati had orchestrated a media spectacle, paying journalists to capture her in handcuffs as she was transported to Harare’s Moris Depot. However, the tide turned when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) intervened, revealing that the arrest was based on false information—Curechem confirmed the chemicals were indeed at Beira Border, awaiting Marconati’s own delivery instructions. Li Song was released, but the damage to her reputation was done.
Undeterred by this failure, Marconati forged company documents to remove Li Song as both director and company secretary of DGL9. In her place, he appointed his son, Alessandro Marconati, consolidating his grip on the company. But this was only the beginning of his ruthless pursuit to destroy Li Song.
Further complicating matters, on 14 October 2021, Marconati submitted fake CR6 documents for Eagle Italian Shoes and Eagle Company that were not even registered with the Registrar of Deeds and Companies. His willingness to engage in such blatant forgery underscores the depths of his deceit and manipulation.
In February 2023, Li Song, determined to protect her interests, worked to secure a supplier’s rebate for the delayed consignment, successfully getting approval from ZIMRA. But when the chemicals finally arrived at Queens Mine in May 2023, Marconati refused to allow them to be offloaded, even blocking the gate with armed guards. The chemicals were eventually moved to Curechem’s Bulawayo depot after the transporter charged waiting fees, but the saga was far from over.
Months later, Curechem requested the chemicals be removed from their depot due to space constraints, leading to their relocation to a warehouse along Plumtree Road, owned by Duration Gold. In a calculated move, Marconati, in collusion with Alan Dolan, a director at Duration Gold, reported the storage of hazardous chemicals to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), leading to a fine and an order to move the chemicals.
But when Li Song attempted to comply and move the chemicals to a licensed facility in February 2024, Duration Gold’s lawyer and secretary inexplicably refused, despite having earlier raised concerns about the safety of their staff. It became clear that Marconati’s influence was at work once again, manipulating the situation to further his vendetta against Li Song.
Not content with the havoc he had already wreaked, Marconati then turned to social media, spreading malicious rumors that Li Song and a former Duration Gold director, Mary Magdalene, had imported the chemicals for illegal poaching in Hwange. When his lies failed to gain traction, he escalated his efforts, filing a report with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) accusing Li Song of importing chemicals under false pretenses.
Marconati’s bribery of a ZACC officer, Willemu Adamu, ensured that the harassment continued, with ZACC officers, including Adamu, seen at Queens Mine receiving fuel in exchange for their cooperation. This corrupt alliance extended to the Rotten Row Magistrate Court, where Adamu used his influence to intimidate court staff, even manipulating the issuance of an arrest warrant against Li Song in a case unrelated to his investigations.
He also stands accused of bribing a judge to acquit him despite overwhelming evidence of his forged documents when his co-directors took him to court. Moreover, he is known for his deep connections with ZACC officials and members of the National Prosecuting Authority, further complicating efforts to bring him to justice.
As the walls closed in, Marconati targeted Li Song’s employees, Musozi Miti and Bernadette Mukuku, accusing them of being her accomplices in a bid to cripple her defenses. His goal was clear: to destroy Li Song’s reputation, dismantle her business, and seize control of DGL9 for his own gain.
The story of Francesco Marconati is a chilling reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who, consumed by greed and a lust for power, are willing to go to any lengths to achieve their goals. But in the face of his relentless campaign of lies, intimidation, and corruption, the truth is beginning to emerge, and with it, the hope that justice will finally prevail.
