Saviour Kasukuwere (born 23 September 1970) is a Zimbabwean politician who served in the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...

of Zimbabwe as Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and National Housing between October and November 2017. He was also the

ZANU–PF The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) is a political organisation which has been the ruling party of Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. The party was led for many years under Robert Mugabe, first as prime ministe ...

party's national political commissar until December 2017. Before that he was Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, and Minister of the Environment, Water and Climate. In October 2020, the Zimbabwe government sought Kasukuwere's extradition after issuing a warrant for his arrest. It was revealed that Kasukuwere was among loyalists of former President

Robert Mugabe Robert Gabriel Mugabe (; ; 21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He served as Leader of the ...

who fled to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

before their criminal trials could be completed.

Career

Politics

He has been a member of the

Pan-African Parliament The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union. It held its inaugural session in March 2004. The Parliament exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, ha ...

since 2004. He was Deputy Secretary of Youth Affairs in the

Politburo A politburo () or political bureau is the executive committee for communist parties. It is present in most former and existing communist states. Names The term "politburo" in English comes from the Russian ''Politbyuro'' (), itself a contraction ...

of the

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Moza ...

and subsequently Secretary for the Commissariat. He has been the Member of Parliament for Mount Darwin South Parliamentary Constituency since 2000. From 2005 until February 2009, he served as the Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Youth Development and Employment Creation. Kasukuwere was Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment from 2009 to 2013. Following President

's victory in the July 2013 presidential election, he moved Kasukuwere to the post of Minister of the Environment on 10 September 2013. President Mugabe moved Kasukuwere to the post of Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on 6 July 2015. In October 2017 the ministry was expanded to include Rural Development.

2017 coup d'etat and aftermath

On 19 November 2017, Kasukuwere was expelled from ZANU–PF by the party's central committee. Other prominent G40 politicians, including

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Patrick Zhuwao Patrick Zhuwao (; born 23 May 1967) is a Zimbabwean businessman, farmer, and politician. He served as Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare between October and November 2017. He was expelled from the ruling ZANU–PF party during ...

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, Shadreck Mashayamombe, Makhosini Hlongwane,

Innocent Hamandishe Innocence is a lack of guilt, with respect to any kind of crime, or wrongdoing. In a legal context, innocence is to the lack of legal guilt of an individual, with respect to a crime. In other contexts, it is a lack of experience. In relation ...

Samuel Undenge Samuel Undenge (Born 1956) is a Zimbabwean politician. He is the former Energy and Power Development minister. Until 2018 he was a member of parliament from the Chimanimani East constituency in Manicaland Province. He was formerly the Minister of ...

, and

Sarah Mahoka Sarah Mahoka (March 23, 1966 – February 17, 2022) was a Zimbabwean politician. Mahoka was a member of parliament for Hurungwe East. Death Mahoka died February 17, 2022, as the result of an automobile accident. She was travelling towards Karo ...

were also expelled from the party. On 27 November 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded ousted President Robert Mugabe, announced the dissolution of the Zimbabwe Cabinet, leaving only Patrick Chinamasa and Simbarashe Mumbengegwi as acting ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs respectively.

Business

He owns several companies including Comoil (executive Director until 2005), Migdale Holdings Limited, and Allen Wack & Shepherd. He is a citrus farmer in Mazowe, Zimbabwe. He started his business when he was 21 years and built a sprawling business empire before joining politics. The business empire has footprints in the SADC region mainly in transport and logistics.

Sanctions

Since 2003, Kasukuwere is on the

United States sanctions After the failure of the Embargo Act of 1807, the federal government of the United States took little interest in imposing embargoes and economic sanctions against foreign countries until the 20th century. United States trade policy was entirely a ...

list.

Self Exile

In November 2017, Kasukuwere fled the country alongside other G40 cabalists, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Mr Patrick Zhuwao, who remain in exile. After six months and six days in self-imposed exile, he finally returned home.

Criminal charges, return to South Africa and extradition request

On 12 October 2020, members of Zimbabwe's national prosecuting authority met with South Africa Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi to request the extraditions of both Kasukuwere and

, due to corruption charges. However, Hodzi hesitated and demanded that the proposed extraditions be based on the Extradition (Designated Countries) Order of 1990. It was also revealed that Kasukuwere again fled to South Africa, with Zimbabwe's prosecutor general stating Kasukuwere and Mzembi "had their cases before the courts, but they fled before their trials were completed".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kasukuwere, Saviour 1970 births Living people Members of the Pan-African Parliament from Zimbabwe Government ministers of Zimbabwe People from Mashonaland Central Province