Gabriel A T Chipara

𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦. He was once the richest black man in Zimbabwe, made by ZANU PF policies, indigenization, and preferential procurement alongside people like Nigel Chanakira, James Makamba, Strive Masiyiwa, and others. At his zenith, he had 27 companies: 2 banks, 2 insurance companies, a number of mines, a pipe manufacturing company, and others, bought through vender finance and financial engineering, enabled by ZANU PF indigenization policies. Under the illusion that he was self-made because he had worked at the World Bank, he was asked to give back to those who made him. He refused. Meanwhile, smart ones like Strive never forgot what made them, so they gave back to their masters, without thinking twice, despite playing to the gallery by speaking ill against the same ZANU PF that empowered them. You have heard Mutsvangwa saying we make all those who have money in Zimbabwe. That’s no joke. As a result, Mawere lost all that had been given him. Mr World Bank, thinking that since he was “self-made” and a South African citizen, he would join the ANC, get tenders and empowerment deals again to make it. But in a country where blacks own nothing, he became broke and destitute, to a point of being embroiled in fraud of $250 000. For the better part of his last 15 years, he was trying to convince people like me and many others to help him fight the government to get his wealth back, but it was to no avail because it was never his in the first place. As a result, he died of stress and frustration at the age of 66, unable to get the support and empowerment that once made him. If Nigel Chanakira and Kasukuwere do not humble themselves, I see them suffering the same fate. ZANU PF made them all, and without ZANU PF they won’t survive. Don’t listen to these class of 1972-79 telling you that they are self-made. Most of them were made by ZANU PF, including THE telco billionaire. If you don’t believe me, let him to refuse to kiss the ring and see if he won’t end up like Mawere. Never turn your back on your country or what made you, because it's the only thing that can make you again. Many of you diaspora citizens who are always bitter and denigrating your nation here on social media, you are already showing signs of similar frustration and heartbreak. It's not too late; learn from our elder. RIP Mawere. PS: There's nothing I'm writing here that I didn't say to his face.