Harare constitutional lawyer Phil Mutukwa has accused Zimbabwe’s booming gambling operators of deliberately targeting low-income communities, warning that the rise of Kandege betting is “not accidental, but engineered.”
In a statement posted on social media, Mutukwa said betting shops are “strategically planted” in high-density, high-traffic suburbs to maximise profits from vulnerable people.
“This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a business model,” he said.
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Mutukwa cited global studies, including research by the University of Oxford Gambling Research Group, which describe “predatory placement” the deliberate concentration of betting halls in poorer neighbourhoods where repeat spending is more likely.
“The poor are surrounded by environments that sell luck, while the rich live in environments that promote leverage,” he said.
He contrasted the saturation of betting outlets in townships with their absence in affluent suburbs.
“You will never find a betting hall in Borrowdale or Mt Pleasant, not because they forgot, but because the return on investment is almost zero.”
Instead, Mutukwa noted that wealthier areas are dominated by banks, investment firms and financial institutions, reflecting what the World Bank terms long-term financial behaviour.
He warned that gambling is now even harder to escape, with online platforms turning smartphones into “pocket-sized casinos” operating 24/7.
“It’s not only about how you think. It’s also about where you are.
“Your environment is an economic force,” he said.
Mutukwa linked the surge in betting to rising social harm, saying recent cases involving heavy gambling losses include criminal charges and families collapsing under financial strain.
“The system is designed around instant reward psychology, proximity and financial pressure,” he said.
“Change the environment, and you change the behavior.”
With betting halls multiplying and online gambling accelerating, Mutukwa said Kandege has become “an ecosystem and it knows exactly where to find its customers.”
