Evidence examined in Rome

Public prosecutors in Rome investigating the 16 October 2025 bombing at the home of journalist Sigfrido Ranucci in Campo Ascolano are examining new documents relating to business dealings in Africa. The material under review includes a 29 June 2026 email sent by Ranucci to businessman Valter Lavitola, who is detained in prison on charges of ordering the bomb attack against the journalist. The communication detailed the contents of an interview Ranucci conducted with Kenneth Nyangani, a reporter for the Zimbabwean newspaper The Standard. In the message, Ranucci opened with a statement that he was investigating corruption in Zimbabwe and requested further information from Lavitola regarding an individual described as an alleged fraudster. Rome prosecutor Edoardo De Sanctis and Carabinieri officers from the Via In Selci investigative unit are evaluating whether to open a separate investigative branch into these commercial ties.

The Zimbabwean interview

The Standard published the article in English on 5 July 2026, outlining an inquiry into Italian entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe's carbon credit sector who claimed a local partner had defrauded them. Nyangani confirmed that he conducted the interview over a videocall after Lavitola suggested the contact. In the published text, Ranucci stated that he had spoken with an official at the Italian embassy in Zimbabwe about the matter. Following a police search of Lavitola's residence and subsequent media reporting, The Standard removed the article from its website.

“It was Valter Lavitola who suggested speaking to him.”

Commercial interests in Zimbabwe

Lavitola pursued energy and environmental investments in Zimbabwe through Future Awaits Holdings, an enterprise seeking licences to generate carbon credits across 96,000 hectares. His Italian partners in the venture included Urban Vision executives Gianluca De Marchi and Fabio Mazzoni, alongside local partner Benjamin Chimutengo, who managed operations on the ground in Zimbabwe. The business faced regulatory obstacles in May 2025 when Zimbabwean authorities introduced stricter anti-money laundering restrictions. Relations collapsed on 29 October 2025, two weeks after the bomb detonated outside Ranucci's front gate, when auditing firm Kreston Zimbabwe announced the termination of its collaboration with Future Awaits Holdings.

Background and defence response

Lavitola and Ranucci maintained contact for years, with Lavitola initially acting as a journalistic source before the relationship developed further. Lavitola previously served prison sentences following convictions related to the Avanti newspaper funds, political bribery, and attempted extortion involving former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. In response to the recent findings, Ranucci defended the correspondence, explaining that the editorial team of Report had previously covered carbon credit markets and considered further inquiry standard journalistic activity. Through defence attorney Roberto De Vita, Ranucci stated that gathering background information on international commercial ventures remained within regular reporting boundaries. When asked directly by broadcasters about the leaked emails detailing his communications with Lavitola, Ranucci maintained that the exchange was routine.

“I have nothing to deny.”

Magistrate Edoardo De Sanctis and Carabinieri investigators are continuing their examination of communications between Ranucci, Lavitola, and associate Gomes Tavares to determine whether these commercial disputes in Zimbabwe influenced the circumstances surrounding the 2025 attack.