The Tawengwa Family are a prominent and influential family of
Zimbabwe engaged in business, agriculture and politics. The original family business was Mushandira Pamwe Buses, which was established in the 1950s by
George Tawengwa
George Tawengwa (1902 – 13 April 1982) was a businessman who was engaged in transport, retail, and agriculture industries in Rhodesia.
Early life and prophecy
Tawengwa was born to Chirume and Maria (Mhariya) of the ''Gumbo Madyira'' totem a ...
Snr. In 1960, George Tawengwa became the first black person in Southern
Rhodesia
Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' successor state to the British colony of S ...
to purchase a 1,872.0 hectare (4,626 acre) commercial farm, then called Rhodesdale Farm (renamed
Zimdale Farm after independence, in 1980). George Tawengwa and his wife Mabel Tawengwa made news headlines in 1977 when they purchased five farms in cash transactions. George Tawengwa also built the Mushandira Pamwe Hotel in
Highfield, Harare
Highfield is the second oldest high-density suburb or township in Harare, Zimbabwe built to house Rhodesians of African origin, the first being Mbare. Highfield was founded on what used to be Highfields Farm. It is of historical, cultural and p ...
in 1972. George Tawengwa's sons, Solomon (1940–2004) and Charles (born 1954), also became prominent businessmen and farmers. They both served as
Mayor of Harare. Solomon Tawengwa was put 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 in 2003 and remained there until his demise the following year.
Blocking property of persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe
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References
Business families
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