by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – MUTUMWA Dziva Mawere, the Zimbabwean-born businessman whose meteoric rise to prominence and subsequent protracted battles with the Zimbabwean government defined much of his life, has died at 66.
He passed away on Thursday morning at MediClinic Sandton Hospital in Johannesburg after a prolonged illness, just days after celebrating his birthday on 11 January.
Mawere was a towering figure in Southern Africa’s business landscape, known for building one of Zimbabwe’s most influential industrial conglomerates in the 1990s.
His business interests spanned mining, manufacturing, financial services, telecommunications, transport, publishing, investment holdings, and international trade.
He first rose to prominence after acquiring Shabanie Mashaba Mines (SMM) in 1996, then Zimbabwe’s sole asbestos mining company, through his holding firm Africa Resources Limited. Under his leadership, SMM became one of the country’s largest industrial employers and exporters.
Mawere’s success was interrupted in 2004 when the ZANU-PF government invoked the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act to seize control of SMM and other assets, amid allegations of financial irregularities—claims he consistently denied, insisting his businesses were unlawfully taken and used to settle state debts.
Following the takeover of his business empire, key operations at the asbestos mines faltered, leading to closure and the loss of thousands of jobs, with reports of significant hardship for former workers and their communities.
In South Africa, Mawere continued entrepreneurial activities in logistics, manufacturing, and investment holdings, though he faced legal disputes including a 2024 contempt of court sentence connected to long-running litigation.
Mawere had been battling health issues linked to an acute neurological condition, first diagnosed in mid-2024, which severely compromised his health in recent months.
He is survived by his wife, Jane, six children, 28 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Mawere’s life and career symbolised both the potential and challenges of African entrepreneurship—marked by bold expansion, fierce political contestation, and enduring debate over state-business relations in Zimbabwe and beyond.
– CAJ News