Collins Mnangagwa

Collins Takunda Mnangagwa
Born (1987-02-24) 24 February 1987
Zimbabwe
CitizenshipZimbabwean
EducationBSc Electrical Engineering and its Automation
North China Electric Power University (2012)
OccupationsBusinessman, mining executive
Known forGroup Chairman and CEO of ZIMCN Investments
TitleGroup Chairman of ZIMCN Investments [1]
Parent(s)Emmerson Mnangagwa
Auxillia Mnangagwa
RelativesSean Mnangagwa (twin brother)
David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa (brother)

Collins Takunda Mnangagwa (born 24 February 1987) is a Zimbabwean businessman and mining executive[2]. He is the son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa [3]. His younger brother, David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa,[4] is Zimbabwe's deputy minister of finance and investment promotion.

He is the chief executive officer and chairman of ZIMCN Investments,[5] which operates the Radnor Gold Mine in Mutoko, Mashonaland East Province.[6] He is also chairman of Chenxi Investments (also rendered Chengxi),[7] which conducts gold mining operations in Shurugwi, Midlands Province.

Early life and education

Collins Mnangagwa was born on 24 February 1987 in Zimbabwe. He is one of a pair of twins; his twin brother is Sean Mnangagwa[8], an officer in the Zimbabwe National Army[9][10]. He also has an elder brother, Emmerson Mnangagwa Jnr, and a sister, Tarisai Mnangagwa[11]. He studied electrical engineering at the North China Electric Power University[12] in Beijing, China, graduating in 2012 with a BSc in Electrical Engineering and its Automation, with a specialisation in mining plant automation systems.

Career

According to his professional profile, Mnangagwa worked as a senior consultant at Kurera Khulisa from around 2015. In 2021 he partnered with Chinese investor Chi Yingdan to establish ZIMCN Investments[13] (also referred to as ZimCN or ZIM-CHINA). The company operates Radnor Gold Mine in the Makaha area of Mutoko, an area regarded as containing some of Zimbabwe’s richer gold deposits[14]. In October 2021 Mnangagwa commissioned new milling and leaching plants at the mine[15]; President Emmerson Mnangagwa later officially commissioned a multi-million-dollar plant at the site in 2022. ZIMCN[16] has interests spanning mining, drilling and exploration, energy and logistics.

Mnangagwa is also chairman and senior partner of Chenxi Investments (Private) Limited, which has conducted open-cast gold mining on the Boterekwa Escarpment (Wolfshall Pass)[17] near Shurugwi since around 2021–2022[18]. The company’s general manager has publicly identified him in that role. He has been associated with community and social initiatives, including through ED AID 1[19], such as renovations at Matapi Flats[20] in Mbare, Harare, and support programmes involving food donations, youth skills training and assistance to artisanal miners.

Controversies and allegations

In 2020 Mnangagwa was linked in media reports to the Drax International controversy[21]. Drax, represented in Zimbabwe by Delish Nguwaya, received government contracts related to COVID-19https://www.occrp.org/en/news/zimbabwes-health-minister-charged-for-covid-19-corruption supplies (reports cited figures in the region of US$1 million for one PPE consignment and larger sums for medicines). Allegations included inflated pricing and a lack of competitive tendering. Mnangagwa publicly denied any membership, shares, business or personal relationship with Drax or Nguwaya. Photographs later circulated showing social connections between the Mnangagwa twins and Nguwaya. The scandal contributed to the dismissal and arrest of then Health Minister Obadiah Moyo[22]; Nguwaya was also arrested[23]. Investigations were conducted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

Also in 2020, during the trial of Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya (arrested for attempting to smuggle gold), a co-accused claimed the gold belonged to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and that Collins Mnangagwa was supposed to have exported it. Both Auxillia and Collins Mnangagwa denied involvement and were cleared of gold smuggling false allegations[24], Rushwaya was later convicted and fined.

Mining operations allegedely linked to Mnangagwa have faced environmental criticism. In January 2025 the Environmental Management Agency fined[25]ZIMCN over alleged pollution at Radnor Mine after reports of cyanide-contaminated water affecting livestock. Chenxi’s[26] activities on the Boterekwa Escarpment have been accused of extensive vegetation clearance (satellite imagery cited by investigators), pollution of rivers and streams, impacts on local tourism features such as Dunraven Falls, and damage to nearby housing from blasting. The company has faced fines and licensing scrutiny; critics have alleged reluctance by authorities to enforce stricter measures due to political connections, while the company has maintained that its operations are lawful.

Personal life

Collins Mnangagwa has been reported as married, with a public vow renewal ceremony around the 10-year mark of one marriage (references to a wife named Linnet/Linet appear in coverage from 2023). Subsequent unverified reports described a second marriage or relationship with Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika. In August 2026 Tafirenyika[27] appeared in court on drug-related charges after police allegedly recovered pethidine, morphine and cannabis at a residence linked to her.

References

  1. ↑ "ZimCN chair named among 40 innovative business leaders". Herald Online. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  2. ↑ "On hollow ground: Zimbabwean mining town on the brink of collapse". GroundUp. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Murwira, Zvamaida (3 June 2020). "Mnangagwa's son and bodyguard at the centre of Zim's PPE scandal". IOL. The Star. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Mnangagwa, Kudakwashe David (30 April 2025). Statement by Hon. Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa, Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, at the Ministerial Segment of the Fourth Session of the Preparatory Committee of the FfD4 (PDF) (Speech). Fourth Session of the Preparatory Committee of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). New York: United Nations. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Zimoyo, Tafadzwa (24 December 2024). "ZIMCN investments recognised for mining, community development efforts". Herald Online. Zimpapers. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Senior Reporter (10 May 2023). "Radnor Mine a game-changer in Mudzi District". Herald Online. Zimpapers. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "About Us". Chenxi Investment (Private) Limited. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Sean Mnangagwa". Pindula. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Abdi, Guled (30 April 2026). "Zimbabwe President promotes son Sean to senior army rank". Diplomat News Network. Harare. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Dube, Pindai (29 April 2026). "Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa promotes another son, this time to senior rank in army". News24. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Tarirai David Mnangagwa". Pindula. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "North China Electric Power University". North China Electric Power University. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Rudo Matiziva (9 December 2025). "ZIMCN Investments and KGK earn three awards at Zimbabwe CEO's Network for Sustainable Excellence". Herald Online. Zimpapers. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Srivastava, Rajneesh. "Zimbabwe -Mutoko Gold project". Academia.edu. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Precious Manomano (17 October 2025). "Gold milling and processing centre to benefit over 5000 small-scale miners". The Sunday Mail. Zimpapers. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Home". Zim-China Corporation. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Mbewe, Rumbidzai (27 November 2016). "Boterekwa – A spectacular marvel". Sunday News. Zimpapers. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Staff Reporter (5 December 2024). "Boterekwa turned into a death trap as mining activities leave gaping holes, ditches on main road". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Collins Mnangagwa renovates dilapidated Mbare flats". Bulawayo24. The Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Modernisation of Matapi Flats laudable". The Herald (Zimbabwe). 24 June 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026 – via PressReader.
  21. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin (4 June 2020). "Stop attacking Zimbabwe's first family, Zanu-PF warns". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  22. ↑ News Agencies (8 July 2020). "Zimbabwe Health Minister Obediah Moyo sacked amid graft scandal". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Madzianike, Nyore (1 December 2020). "Businessman Nguwaya removed from remand". allAfrica.com. The Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Rall, Se-Anne (2 November 2020). "Zim first family cleared of gold smuggling charges". IOL. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  25. ↑ Nkala, Silas (26 January 2022). "Ema fines Chinese miner $520 000". NewsDay. Zimbabwe. Retrieved 19 August 2026 – via Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.
  26. ↑ "Zimbabwe project". Chenxi Investment (Private) Limited. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Whiz, Lindie (7 August 2026). "Multiple IDs throw spanners into bail bid by Mnangagwa daughter-in-law". ZimLive. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
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