Today: Feb 12, 2025

Controversial Zimbabwean inventor Sangulani Maxwell Chikumbutso finally unveils groundbreaking fuel-free car alongside President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Zimbabwe will launch the Saith EV on February 10—an autonomous, 220 km/h car with unlimited range. Developed by Chikumbutso with Chinese partners, it costs $14,000 per unit, with plans for local production. President Mnangagwa calls it a world first.
2 weeks ago

Early this week, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched two vehicles model and one motorcycle that are said to be powered by a revolutionary energy source—one that defies conventional physics, a technology of zimbabwean company Saith Technologies. The mastermind behind this invention, 44-year-old Sungulani Chikumbuso, claims his technology eliminates the need for fuel or batteries, harnessing power from radio frequencies instead.

Saith Technologies will launch a series of innovative products on February 10, including the Saith electric vehicle, which has attracted global interest.

Developed in collaboration with Chinese manufacturer  KAIYI that supplied the vehicle shell and components, the Saith features an unlimited driving range, a top speed of 220 km/h, and self-parking and autonomous driving capabilities. Production costs are US$14,000 per unit, with plans to establish a manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe for vehicles using this technology.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa praised Sangulani Chikumbutso as an inventor of a unique, first-of-its-kind technology. He emphasized the importance of supporting such innovations, calling it an example of the national development principle “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” (A nation is built by its own people).

Chikumbuso for years has raised controversies, but he has never recieved political and his country endorsement as it was seen this week. If validated, Chikumbuso’s invention could disrupt the global energy and automotive industries, potentially positioning Zimbabwe as a leader in clean energy technology. However, his claims have raised eyebrows among scientists and engineers, as they challenge long-established laws of physics.

Born and raised in Harare’s Zewareseku suburb, Chikumbuso’s journey to scientific innovation was far from conventional. Financial constraints forced him to drop out of school in Form 2, but his passion for technology never wavered. In the late 1990s, he began experimenting with electronics, creating devices such as a radio transmitter, digital navigator, and even a turbine engine—all from scrap metal.

His focus later shifted to green energy, and in 2009, he claims to have invented what he calls the “Microsonic Energy Device.” This device, according to Chikumbuso, captures radio frequencies and converts them into usable power.

Chikumbuso’s car does not rely on traditional fuels like petrol, diesel, or even rechargeable batteries. Instead, he asserts that it draws energy from the air using radio waves, a concept that, if proven practical, could render gasoline engines and lithium-ion batteries obsolete.

“The vehicle uses what we call a Microsonic Energy Device,” Chikumbuso explained. “It harnesses radio frequencies, converts them into energy, and powers the car’s electric motor.”

This remarkable claim challenges established scientific principles, particularly the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Chikumbuso acknowledges that his invention has faced skepticism, even being denied a patent on the basis that it “violates natural laws of physics.”

However, rather than abandon his project, he chose to protect it as a trade secret, ensuring its continued development without the need for patent approval.

Chikumbuso’s prototype vehicles are not just concept models; they are fully functional. According to him, they offer:

  • Unlimited range – Unlike electric cars that need recharging, these vehicles purportedly never run out of power.
  • Impressive speed – Capable of exceeding 220 km/h, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just two seconds in sport mode.
  • High power output – The motor produces 160 kW (215 horsepower) with 320-308 Nm of torque, making it competitive with standard SUVs.
  • Household energy supply – The vehicle doubles as a portable generator, providing up to 15 kW of power to a home when parked.

If true, such capabilities could transform not only the automotive industry but also energy access in Africa, where millions lack reliable electricity.

Chikumbuso’s journey has not been without hardship. He claims that during a visit to Silicon Valley, USA, he and his research partner were poisoned—an event he believes was orchestrated by powerful interests in the oil and automotive industries.

“We were poisoned. My partner didn’t make it. He died in January 2017, but by the grace of God, I survived,” Chikumbuso recalled.

This allegation echoes a long history of inventors facing resistance when introducing disruptive energy technologies. While there is no public evidence supporting his claims of poisoning, his suspicions highlight the potential threat his work poses to trillion-dollar industries notes comentators.

Scientific scrutiny: Is this possible?

The international recognition of Chikumbutso’s work reached new heights when Foster Gamble, producer of the acclaimed Thrive documentary, learned of his innovations. Gamble, along with scientist Nils Rognerud, traveled to Zimbabwe in 2018 to verify the authenticity of Chikumbutso’s technology.

After weeks of rigorous testing, Rognerud and his team confirmed that the 500kW GPM generator functioned as claimed. This momentous event was captured in Thrive II, a film released on September 26, 2020, translated into 15 languages.

Chikumbuso’s technology, if genuine, would be a scientific breakthrough of unprecedented scale. However, mainstream physics suggests that radio waves do not contain enough energy to power a moving vehicle.

Existing wireless power transmission—like Tesla’s early experiments or modern inductive charging—operates only at very short distances and requires high-energy input. No known technology has achieved what Chikumbuso claims.

Dr. Takunda Moyo, a Zimbabwean electrical engineer, expressed both skepticism and curiosity:

“If this is real, it’s Nobel Prize-worthy. But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. We need peer-reviewed studies, independent tests, and transparency before declaring this a breakthrough.”

Chikumbuso insists that his technology has undergone certifications and testing, including ISO standards, FCC approvals, and verification by Zimbabwe’s Vehicle Inspection Department (VID). However, no published scientific validation currently exists.

President Mnangagwa has thrown his support behind Chikumbuso, inviting him back from the U.S. to continue his work in Zimbabwe. The government hopes this innovation will reduce the country’s reliance on fuel imports and position Zimbabwe as a technological powerhouse.

“We are proud of what our young minds can do for the country and for humanity,” Mnangagwa said.

The vehicles were assembled in China but utilize Chikumbuso’s patented powertrain. If the technology proves viable at scale, Zimbabwe could emerge as a leader in green transport and energy independence.

For now, the world remains divided between believers and skeptics. If Chikumbuso’s invention can withstand scientific scrutiny and industrial application, it could change the global energy landscape forever. But without peer-reviewed verification, many remain unconvinced.

As the launch approaches, all eyes are on Zimbabwe. If these vehicles truly run on nothing but radio waves, the implications are staggering—not just for Zimbabwe, but for the entire world.

 

Fabrice Iranzi

Journalist and Project Leader at LionHerald, strong passion in tech and new ideas, serving Digital Company Builders in UK and beyond
E-mail: iranzi@lionherald.com

4 Comments Leave a Reply

  1. Hi Mr. Iranzi, great what you are writing. Have you personally seen the cars? The GPM? The Certifications? We want come to the launch as the austrian association of spaceenergy. We have some inventions which running on “nothing”. Best regards Wilhelm Mohorn/ÖVR President

  2. am from Zimbabwe and this seems like our break through. Imagine this tech on town busses how much will be the fare

  3. There are few indipendet inventor has proven it’s possible to harvest power from radio waves but lack of refined circuit to control the input and output of the invention. Then it is nothing impossible if Chikumbutso has found the right curcuitry to harvest and control the microwave energy for his invention. All left for him is just change the Power Pack to all other inventions and.. Poofs.. A new power tools being created.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.