PRNigeria Fact-Check Reveals Zimbabwean Inventor’s ‘Radio Wave-Powered’ Car is False
A viral video claiming that Zimbabwean inventor Maxwell Chikumbutso has created a “fuel-free” car powered by radio frequencies has been debunked by PRNigeria after a thorough fact-check.
The widely circulated video alleged that Chikumbutso’s invention surpassed those of Tesla and Silicon Valley, claiming his “self-propelled” car required no fuel, electricity, or charging.
The video, accompanied by text, stated: “Proof that we Africans can actually be quite smart. This motor vehicle invention in Zimbabwe beats all the work of Tesla and the entire Silicon Valley combined. Not even the Chinese come anywhere close. They even tried to kill him (the inventor), but when God says yes, no one can say no.”
Another claim on WhatsApp added: “Africans need to patronize our own after OM come Q1. This vehicle will be launched on February 10, 2025. No fuel, no electricity, talk less of charging. It is a self-propelled car.”
The video showed Chikumbutso presenting his alleged inventions, including the Saith FEV (hypersonic device), to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the State House in Harare. He claimed the vehicle required no fuel, recharging, or external input, asserting it was powered entirely by radio waves.
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PRNigeria’s fact-check team investigated the claims by reviewing reports from Zimbabwean media and conducting independent research. According to Harare News, Chikumbutso’s inventions have been met with skepticism, with many labeling him a “bogus inventor.” Critics accused him of purchasing an electric vehicle and a portable power station, then rebranding them as his own creations.
Award-winning Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono further debunked the claims in a Facebook post. A reverse image search of Chikumbutso’s hypersonic device revealed it was actually a Browey Portable Power Station, sold on Amazon for $109 and unveiled in August 2023.
Rugoho-Chin’ono also criticized Zimbabwean state media for uncritically amplifying Chikumbutso’s claims and questioned why President Mnangagwa entertained such allegations.
PRNigeria’s investigation confirmed that the car displayed by Chikumbutso was a Kaiyi X3 Pro electric vehicle, powered by a lithium-ion phosphate battery—not a revolutionary “fuel-free” invention. The so-called hypersonic device he showcased was also identified as a commercially available product.
PRNigeria’s findings confirm that Maxwell Chikumbutso’s claims of inventing a “self-powering electric vehicle powered by radio waves” are false. The alleged inventions were found to be commercially available products, rebranded and misrepresented as groundbreaking innovations. The claims are misleading and lack credible evidence.
This revelation underscores the importance of fact-checking extraordinary technological claims, especially in the age of social media, where misinformation spreads rapidly. It also highlights the need for greater scrutiny of individuals presenting unverified breakthroughs—particularly when such claims gain high-profile endorsements.
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