Business Reporter
Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa Dziva Mawere, known for his influential role in the African business landscape, has passed away at the age of 66.
He died on Thursday at Mediclinic Sandton Hospital in South Africa, according to sources close to him. Mawere had just celebrated his birthday on January 11, though the cause of his death has not yet been revealed.
Mawere gained significant prominence in the 1990s, when he founded Africa Resources Limited, which grew into one of the largest African-owned business conglomerates of its time. His diverse business interests spanned mining, manufacturing, and finance, with notable assets like Shabanie Mashaba Mines—Zimbabwe’s sole producer of asbestos.
However, his career was marred by contentious legal and political battles with the Zimbabwean government, which seized control of several of his companies in the early 2000s. Mawere consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming that his assets were taken unlawfully, and his legal struggles continued in both Zimbabwe and South Africa for years.
In more recent years, Mawere remained a divisive figure, often voicing strong opinions on issues like economic governance, property rights, and investment policies in Zimbabwe and the broader region.
As of now, official statements from his family and authorities have not been released, with further details expected in the coming days.
