Zimbabwean Tycoon Mutumwa Mawere Dies in SA Days After 66th Birthday

Mutumwa Mawere Dead At 66: Tycoon Dies In South Africa

Zimbabwean tycoon Mutumwa Mawere has died in South Africa, just days after celebrating his 66th birthday.

The prominent industrialist passed away on Thursday at the Mediclinic Sandton Hospital in Johannesburg, according to close associates who spoke to ZimNow. He had marked his 66th birthday on 11 January. The specific cause of his death remains undisclosed.

From Asbestos King To Legal Battleground

Mutumwa Mawere’s career was a defining story of African enterprise in the late 20th century. He rose to fame by building Africa Resources Limited into a colossal, African-controlled conglomerate with tentacles in mining, manufacturing, and finance. His most iconic holding was Shabanie Mashaba Mines, once Zimbabwe’s sole asbestos producer and a major employer.

A Legacy Defined By Government Seizure

Mawere’s story took a dramatic turn in the early 2000s when the Zimbabwean government moved to take control of his flagship companies. This ignited a bitter, decades-long legal war that played out in courts in both Zimbabwe and South Africa. Mawere maintained his innocence and fought the seizures relentlessly, arguing they were politically motivated and unlawful.

In a 2018 interview, Mawere framed the battle as a broader principle, stating:

“The issue at hand transcends my personal interests. It is about whether the rule of law or the rule of men will govern economic life in Africa. Secure property rights are the bedrock of any investment and development.”

This prolonged struggle made him a deeply polarising figure; a fallen hero to some and a controversial emblem of a fraught economic period to others.

Formal statements from the Mawere family and relevant authorities are currently awaited. The business community across the continent is now grappling with the complex legacy of a man whose life encapsulated both the pinnacle of entrepreneurial success and a landmark battle over state power and assets.