President Mnangagwa’s Spokesperson Gives Advice to Zvigananda
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet George Charamba, has weighed in on the ongoing Zvigananda debate in Zimbabwe, using a recent African business milestone as his reference point.
Charamba was reacting to news that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, opened his largest cement plant outside Nigeria—a $250 million project in Attingué, near Abidjan. The plant, capable of producing 3 million tons of cement annually, is expected to reduce the Ivory Coast’s reliance on imports while creating 2,000 to 3,000 jobs, boosting the local economy.
President Mnangagwa’s Spokesperson Gives Advice to Zvigananda
Taking to his X account on Monday, 18 July 2025, Charamba addressed Zimbabwean businesspeople directly. He argued that investors would not be labelled Zvigananda if they committed meaningfully to Africa, warning that the term applies to those who accumulate wealth only to externalise it. Charamba added a lighthearted disclaimer, emphasising that he was not taking sides in the Zvigananda debate.
He wrote:
“WHEN AFRICAN CAPITALISTS INVEST MEANINGFULLY IN AFRICA, NO ONE CAN EVER CALL THEM ZVIGANANDA!!! It’s when CAPITAL ACCUMULATION leads to CAPITAL FLIGHT through externalisation that we have the phenomenon of ZVIGANANDA!!!!! Musandituke kana kundipa divi!!!!!”
WHEN AFRICAN CAPITALISTS INVEST MEANINGFULLY IN AFRICA, NO ONE CAN EVER CALL THEM ZVIGANANDA!!! It’s when CAPITAL ACCUMULATION leads to CAPITAL FLIGHT through externalization that we have the phenomenon of ZVIGANANDA!!!!! Musandituke kana kundipa divi!!!!!
https://t.co/sPyBu7A9hM
— Jamwanda (@Jamwanda2) August 17, 2025
Public Reactions: Mixed Views on Investment and Capital Flight
The post divided opinion online. Some Zimbabweans agreed with Charamba’s call for purposeful investment in Africa, while others argued he was oversimplifying the issue, pointing out examples of local investors who had contributed meaningfully but faced challenges.
Here are some of the comments:
@realyassinali:
The difference between African Capitalists and Zvigananda is that African Capitalists invest in Africa and build the future. Zvigananda take wealth out and leaves Africa poorer. My view: real strength is keeping wealth here, not running with it.
@toneo1st:
On a good sober day, you make a good sober analysis. Proper Capital accumulation here leads to global empowerment and genuine FDI to beneficiary states, directly contributing to their GDP.
@AC21793717:
The government should act now to encourage affluent individuals to invest their capital in ways that benefit the country. Drawing inspiration from Strive Masiyiwa’s approach could provide a useful model, or even asking him to lead the transition for those willing.
@JohnJon98761329:
1/1 This is not accurate, Mukoma. We do have individuals who have worked well with the government and invested so much in this country; some were even put on sanctions for investing and supporting our government.
@PChisveto:
This guy once visited the motherland with a whole contingent of experts and was keen to invest and bring decent jobs and $ into the fiscus. We decided to look East and have guys who cannot even respect laws/courts, and Bryden Country School is in trouble.
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