Zimbabwe Mourns Top Military Figure and Kuvimba Mining Chairman Justin Hugh Mupamhanga.
By A Correspondent | Harare, Zimbabwe – The nation has been rocked by the passing of Baba Justin Hugh Mupamhanga, a prominent figure in both military and business circles, who died last night at Arundel Hospital in Harare. Mupamhanga, a retired top-ranking military official and trusted ally of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, also served as the chairman of Kuvimba Mining Group, one of Zimbabwe’s most powerful and controversial enterprises.
Kuvimba Mining Group, now fully owned by the state’s Mutapa sovereign wealth fund, has been at the center of national discourse due to its prior control by Kuda Tagwirei, a businessman and presidential adviser under U.S. sanctions. The Mutapa fund’s acquisition of Kuvimba was seen as a strategic move to attract foreign investment for Zimbabwe’s mining sector, which has struggled to secure financing for key projects.
Mupamhanga’s leadership at Kuvimba placed him at the heart of this critical transition. He was instrumental in steering the group’s activities amid its high-profile ownership changes and its role as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s natural resource economy. His death leaves a significant void in the country’s mining and economic development sectors.
Mourners have gathered at his family home at 104 Drew Road, The Grange, Harare, to honor a man who balanced his military service, business acumen, and community leadership.
Mupamhanga was also a key figure in the United Methodist Church (UMC), where he served with dedication as a member of the Innercity Circuit Harare and UMC Harare West District. Known for his passion for music ministry, he was a patron of the Harare Innercity UMC Main Choir and the legendary Harare MUMC Choir Vabvuwi.
While Mupamhanga’s influence extended across religious and business spheres, his ties to Zimbabwe’s political elite and his role in Kuvimba Mining Group underline the wider implications of his passing. His death comes at a time when the government has been navigating economic pressures and controversies surrounding its resource governance strategies.
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
Mupamhanga’s legacy as a military figure, business leader, and community servant will not be forgotten.
May his soul rest in peace.