By Dr. Matthias Magoola, Founder and Managing Director, Dei BioPharma, Uganda
Self-proclaimed Zimbabwean inventor Maxwell Chikumbutso is once again making headlines after being hosted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House, Harare, on January 28. Chikumbutso claims to have developed a vehicle powered by radio frequency (RF) waves—a notion that defies the fundamental principles of physics.
Experts have long pointed out that RF energy is far too weak to power a car, making his assertions yet another case of pseudoscientific deception. The fact that Chikumbutso was received at the highest level of government in Zimbabwe while making such extraordinary claims demands a resolute scientific response.
Chikumbutso, through his company Saith Technologies, has previously claimed to have developed “free energy” devices, including an RF-powered generator and vehicles. However, there has never been any independent scientific verification of these claims. Experts have repeatedly dismissed his work as pseudoscience, noting that RF waves simply do not carry enough usable energy to sustain an automobile.
Despite scientific evidence proving otherwise, his assertions continue to gain traction, fueled by social media misinformation and society’s relentless search for groundbreaking energy solutions. However, history is riddled with similar high-profile hoaxes—many of which were ultimately exposed as fraudulent schemes designed for publicity or financial gain.
One of the most infamous cases was that of Stanley Meyer, who in the 1990s claimed to have invented a car that could run on water using a “fuel cell” to split water into hydrogen and oxygen with minimal energy input. Meyer attracted significant investment before being sued for fraud in 1996, when a court ruled that his so-called “Water Fuel Cell” was nothing more than a scam.
Similarly, Filipino inventor Daniel Dingel spent decades claiming to have developed a water-powered car but never provided scientifically valid proof. He was eventually convicted of fraud in 2008. Another notable case was Genepax, a Japanese company that briefly gained attention in 2008 with its claim of a water-powered car before shutting down and admitting that it had no real technological breakthrough.
John Kanzius’s “Kanzius Effect” also generated excitement by suggesting that saltwater could be used as fuel when exposed to specific radio frequencies. However, subsequent scientific analysis proved that the process required more energy than it could produce, rendering it impractical as a viable energy source.
A similar hoax emerged in Pakistan in 2012 when Agha Waqar Ahmad, an engineer, claimed to have invented a “water kit” that could enable cars to run solely on water. Like those before him, Ahmad’s claims were debunked after failing to withstand scientific scrutiny.
The Danger of Pseudoscience in Energy Innovation
Many of these hoaxes gain traction because they exploit public hope for revolutionary clean energy breakthroughs. Yet, they inevitably collapse under proper scientific examination, leaving behind financial losses, disillusioned supporters, and heightened skepticism toward genuine scientific advancements.
To prevent further deception, the public must remain cautious of claims that seem too good to be true. If someone promises a revolutionary technology that defies the laws of physics, it is almost certainly a scam. Furthermore, there must be greater demand for transparency and accountability from those making such extraordinary assertions.
These fraudulent claims do more than just mislead hopeful investors and the general public—they also undermine legitimate scientific research and innovation. Scientists around the world are working tirelessly to develop real, sustainable energy solutions, and it is imperative that their efforts are not overshadowed by unproven, sensationalized hoaxes.
Science thrives on rigorous testing, verifiable evidence, and peer review. Only through this process can humanity achieve true breakthroughs in energy innovation—not through empty promises and deceptive claims.
