Tawengwa

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The Tawengwas is a family of black businessmen in Zimbabwe. Their business origins are Mushandira Pamwe Buses, established in 1942, Mushandira Pamwe Hotel (1972) in Highfield, Harare established by their father. The father George Tawengwa is the owner of Mushandirapamwe Hotel in Highfield, Harare and was the first black person to purchase a commercial farm in 1960, called Rhodesdale Farm (later christened Zimdale Farm after the Zimbabwe independence in 1980), in the then Southern Rhodesia. He made news headlines in 1977 when he purchased five farms for cash in one transaction. At the time, it was unheard off for a black person to be so prosperous, because of black oppression from the Smith regime. The sons, Solomon and Charles are also well established businessmen and farmers. They both served as Harare mayors. Charles later served as Senator until 2008. The family has close links with the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe since before Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. It is rumored the first seed money for Zanu-PF, come from their father, George Tawengwa. Their Aunt Edna Madzongwe, (Their mother's - Mabel Tawengwa - younger sister) is the current President of Senate and member of the Politburo. The President of Zimbabwe is uncle to Mrs Edna Madzongwe, her mother's brother's son.