- A video by @brother_bash94 broke down Zimbabwe's gold-driven economic turnaround, sparking debate online
- The creator claimed Zimbabwe now holds the third-largest gold reserves in SADC, behind only South Africa and Mauritius
- South Africans and others questioned the claims, with some pointing to smuggling and corruption as complicating factors
A social media creator is getting people talking after sharing a surprisingly optimistic take on Zimbabwe's economy. He pointed to gold as the engine behind what he calls a quiet comeback.
Source: TikTok
In a selfie-style outdoor video posted on 15 October, Instagram user @brother_bash94 made the case that Zimbabwe's fortunes are shifting, driven largely by its mineral wealth. He claimed that gold now accounts for 45% of the country's exports, with mining overall making up 65%. That basket includes lithium, iron and other resources.
What caught attention was his claim about the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's gold stockpile. According to him, the country accumulated $4.5 billion worth of gold in its reserves, a claim confirmed by Equity Axis. It is enough to rank it third in the Southern African Development Community, behind South Africa and Mauritius.
Brother Bash linked the gold reserves directly to Zimbabwe's monetary recovery, suggesting the currency is now backed by tangible assets. He pointed to lower inflation figures as evidence that things are genuinely improving. He said:
"There is the start of Zimbabwe's currency coming back with the lowest inflation out of many African countries in years, so don't think it's all gone because it's coming up."
The video by @brother_bash94 resonated with viewers across the region, though reactions were far from one-sided. Watch the video that sparked the debate below:
Mzansi discusses Zimbabwe's gold story
The comments section filled up quickly with scepticism, curiosity and a few jokes:
@gregorybakker said:
"Zim tourism needs to pay you, bro 🤣👊"
@wes_dolton wrote:
"I call 🧢 😂😂. I need to see evidence."
@dangerboy101 added:
"Now they can pay the previous farmers back for mass land grabs."
@robert20995 shared a more hopeful perspective:
"What must come down must come up. I heard the Zimbabwe dollar is backed by gold. In the coming days, as gold and other prices rise, the African economies will start booming based on commodity exports. Is the Zimbabwe government also cracking down on government corruption? I'm American, and I am impressed by these recent events of this African nation of Zimbabwe."
Other Briefly News stories about Zimbabwe
- TikTok creator @bash.daniels went viral after posting a walk-through video of Harare Gardens during spring, capturing blooming jacaranda trees and clean, functional park fountains.
- South African expat Alice Mofokeng (@alice.mofokeng_) sparked widespread interest on TikTok after sharing videos of her upscale lifestyle in Borrowdale, one of Harare's most prestigious neighbourhoods.
- More than 116,000 Zimbabwean nationals who returned home to escape anti-illegal immigration protests in South Africa face ongoing difficulties rebuilding their livelihoods.
Source: Briefly News
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