Businessman Mutumwa Mawere Dies in South Africa at 66

Zimbabwean businessman and former Shabanie Mashava Mines owner Mutumwa Mawere has died in South Africa at 66 following complications from a stroke, his family has confirmed (image source)

JOHANNESBURG — Prominent Zimbabwean businessman and former Shabanie Mashava Mines (SMM) owner Mutumwa Mawere has died in South Africa at the age of 66.

Mawere passed away on Thursday, January 15, reportedly due to complications linked to a stroke he suffered in 2024. His elder brother, Vincent Mawere, confirmed the death, saying the family was still in the process of gathering full details surrounding the circumstances. “I received the news that my brother passed on in South Africa where he was staying. He suffered a stroke in 2024. However, I am yet to get full details about what actually transpired,” he said.

Mawere rose to national prominence in the mid-1990s after acquiring Shabanie Mashava Mines, then Zimbabwe’s only asbestos mining company. Under his leadership, SMM became a major employer and a significant contributor to the national economy, supporting thousands of jobs and anchoring mining communities in Midlands and Masvingo provinces.

His business empire later became entangled in protracted disputes with the government in the early 2000s, culminating in the state taking control of SMM amid financial and legal challenges. The episode made Mawere one of the most controversial figures in Zimbabwe’s corporate history, often cited in debates on property rights, state intervention and economic governance.

In subsequent years, Mawere relocated to South Africa, where he continued to pursue business interests and remained active in public commentary on Zimbabwe’s political and economic affairs. Despite his absence from the domestic corporate scene, he retained influence as a thinker and critic on issues of reform, entrepreneurship and governance.

Following news of his death, tributes began to emerge from business associates, former colleagues and commentators, many describing Mawere as a bold and visionary entrepreneur whose career reflected both the promise and the perils of doing business in Zimbabwe’s volatile economic environment. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, with the family expected to provide further details in the coming days.

Mawere’s death closes a complex chapter in Zimbabwe’s business history, leaving behind a legacy defined by ambition, resilience and controversy — emblematic of the challenges faced by local entrepreneurs navigating shifting political and economic landscapes.