Aleksandr Zingman

Current assets: Aftrade DMCC (export of machinery and equipment, as well as implementation of infrastructure projects, in African countries) and Bison Agro Machinery (supply of agricultural machinery and equipment to Zimbabwe).

Historical assets: Afex Company Limited (export of Belarusian machinery to African countries; liquidated), Midlands Goldfields Limited (gold mining; liquidated), Midlands Goldfields Foundation (gold mining; liquidated), Zim Goldfields (gold mining in Zimbabwe), WestBalt (restaurant business; managed by his wife, Yelizaveta Dzenisevich; liquidated).

Connections: Aleksandr Lukashenko (political patron, linked to Zingman through Viktar Sheiman), Viktar Sheiman (political patron), Sergei Sheiman (business partner), Oleg Vodchits (business partner), Alexander Shakutin (former business partner), Witold Karczewski (business partner), Yelizaveta Dzenisevich (wife).

Privileges: Having direct access to the leadership of Belarus and several African countries, including through Viktar Sheiman, enables participation in major intergovernmental projects. The political patronage and status of being an Honorary Consul of Zimbabwe provide opportunities to implement various projects on the African continent.

Supplies of Belarusian machinery through Aftrade are financed through loans from Bank Razvitiya and African financial institutions. The scope of these projects is evident in the planned delivery of 2,000 Belarusian tractors and related equipment to Nigeria in 2025.

An OCCRP investigation found that Zingman gained access to the gold mining business in Zimbabwe through his connections with Viktar Sheiman. Zingman and Viktar Sheiman’s son, Sergei, controlled 70% of Zim Goldfields through a network of offshore companies. Zim Goldfields was established in 2018 following intergovernmental negotiations. Zim Goldfields received permits to explore for gold on nearly 55,000 hectares. The Belarusian government, however, held no stake in the company.

Restrictions: None.