The family of renowned Zimbabwean businessman and industrialist Mutumwa Dziva Mawere has announced his death while cautioning the public against unauthorised fundraising and memorial arrangements circulating on social media.
In a statement issued by the famy, the Mawere family confirmed that Mutumwa died in Sandton, Johannesburg, on January 15, 2026, describing him as a “global icon and industrialist par-excellence” whose influence was felt across continents.
“It is with sincere sadness that we formally announce the untimely passing of Mutumwa Dziva Mawere,” the family said, adding that he leaves behind a lasting legacy as a visionary business leader and a man who “fought injustice until the very end.”
However, the family moved to distance itself from messages requesting funeral or memorial contributions through electronic wallets, card payment platforms and bank accounts that have been widely shared since his death. According to the family, they have not authorised any fundraising efforts and have not yet deliberated on the need to raise funds.
“We hereby categorically state that as a family, we have not deliberated on the need to fundraise considering the stature of the man we are mourning today,” the statement reads, warning that individuals named in circulating messages are acting “on their own accord without the knowledge of the family members”
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The family also expressed concern over claims that a memorial service was being organised barely days after Mawere’s passing, saying burial and memorial decisions are a collective family responsibility and that close relatives were still making travel arrangements from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
“This is the highest level of disregard for the privacy of the family to mourn their relative,” the family said, urging friends, relatives and the public to disregard unofficial communications and to allow the family space during the mourning period.
The Mawere family said any official updates regarding funeral or memorial arrangements would be communicated through their designated spokesperson, Alex Mawere.
Mutumwa Dziva Mawere was widely regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent entrepreneurs, with business interests and influence extending beyond the region. The family said they had been overwhelmed by messages of condolence from across the globe, reflecting the breadth of his impact.
“As a family, our only wish and focus is to accord our family member a decent burial befitting the luminary role he has played,” the statement said, while appealing for privacy as they grieve.
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