By Munacho Gwamanda—President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top aide and gold runner and Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen “Mudha” Ncube’s mother, Edith Ncube, has reportedly passed away.
Zanu PF activist @Cde Chibage TINO announced the death on social media.
The post, which did not disclose the cause of her death, read:
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs. Edith Ncube, the beloved mother of our esteemed Zanu-PF Midlands Province Secretary for Security, Honourable Owen Ncube. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Honourable Ncube and his entire family during this time.”
Several senior Zanu PF officials including Farai Marapira and the party’s National Political Commissar, Munyaradzi Machacha, attended the funeral Monday.
Ncube, a longtime ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has a history deeply intertwined with the Midlands’ political and economic undercurrents.
Known by his nickname “Mudha,” Ncube reportedly served as a linchpin in Mnangagwa’s gold mafia operations across Kwekwe, Zhombe, and Gokwe, activities dating back to the 1990s.
Mudha’s influence was cemented when Mnangagwa appointed him as State Security Minister shortly after orchestrating a military coup to unseat Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
However, internal party power struggles within Zanu PF’s Midlands Province eventually led to his dismissal.
Despite this, Mnangagwa reinstated Ncube after the 2018 elections, assigning him the role of Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, signalling a relationship that transcends political convenience.
Critics argue that this appointment further entrenched Ncube’s position as a central figure in the province’s gold-related violence and political coercion.
Ncube’s notoriety as a political enforcer is well-documented.
Allegations of orchestrating violence, intimidating opposition members, and securing illicit gold profits for Zanu PF have haunted his tenure in Midlands.
His actions have earned him a reputation as a trusted but controversial executor of Mnangagwa’s regional power plays.
The death of his mother comes at a time when the shadow of his tumultuous past continues to loom large over Midlands, leaving questions about his enduring role in Mnangagwa’s political machinery.