Patrick Zhuwao

Patrick Zhuwao (born 23 May 1967) is a Zimbabwean businessman, farmer, and politician.

Zhuwao was born in 1967 to Sabina Mugabe and a Mozambican father.

His uncle is former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

He studied at the University of Zimbabwe, where he earned two bachelor's degrees and four master's degrees.

Zhuwao went on to become a tobacco farmer and businessman, with interests in several parastatals.

He also founded a think tank, the Zhuwao Institute, which focused on economic development and was aligned with the policies of President Mugabe.

Zhuwao was born on 23 May 1967 to Sabina Mugabe and a Mozambican father.

He is the brother of Innocent Mugabe, the former head of the Central Intelligence Organisation, and Leo Mugabe, a businessman and politician.

Zhuwao is the only son of Sabina Mugabe who did not use her maiden name as his surname.

He studied at the University of Zimbabwe, where he earned two bachelor's degrees and four master's degrees.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer systems engineering, a Bachelor of Science in economics, a Master of Business Administration in information technology management, a Master of Management, a Master of Public and Development Management, and a Master of Science in economics.

Zhuwao also owned another tobacco and livestock farm, Diandra Farm, allocated to him by the government on 9 December 2004.

Zhuwao also has business interests in Telecel Zimbabwe, a telecommunication firm that is Zimbabwe's second largest mobile phone operator, through the Empowerment Corporation of Zimbabwe, of which he is a stakeholder.

Zhuwao was placed on the United States sanctions list in 2005.

Zhuwao entered politics in 2007 when President Mugabe appointed him deputy minister of youth.

Zhuwao entered politics in July 2007 when President Robert Mugabe appointed him Deputy Minister of Youth.

His appointment was criticized by some as an example of nepotism, because Zhuwao is Mugabe's nephew.

In 2008, Zhuwao was elected to the Zimbabwe House of Assembly for the Zvimba East constituency, as a member of ZANU–PF.

Bybit Lydia Tsomondo had dropped out of the race, clearing the way for him to run.

A year later, he was elected to the House of Assembly for the Zvimba East constituency and was appointed deputy minister of science and technology, a position he held until 2012.

In 2013, he was defeated in the ZANU–PF primaries for reelection to Parliament.

In August 2013, he played a pivotal role in restoring Telecel Zimbabwe's license.

Two months earlier, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe did not renew the company's expired license due to its failure to comply with Zimbabwe's indigenisation policy, which "requires that all foreign firms in Zimbabwe give up the majority of their ownership to black Zimbabweans".

To help the firm renew its license, Zhuwao stepped in to reach a deal in which Telecel Zimbabwe made plans to comply with the indigenisation policy.

Reportedly, Zhuwao himself planned to make himself the company's main shareholder, but reportedly the government did not agree to allow this.

Nevertheless, the government renewed the firm's license, though Zhuwao said that his connection to President Mugabe was not a factor.

He earned his most recent degree, the MS in economics, in September 2014.

Zhuwao owns Norton Tobacco Farm in Norton, Mashonaland West Province.

He was said to have been involved in a salary dispute at Norton Farm when he allegedly went three months without paying the workers.

Zhuwao confirmed the incident but said that because he was in the tobacco industry, he could only pay employees once the crop had been sold.

In 2014, he was named chairman of the newly created board of directors of the parastatal Zimbabwe Power Company by Minister of Energy and Power Development Dzikamai Mavhaire.

In 2014, Zhuwao started his own think tank, the Zhuwao Institute.

The Harare-based institute focused on research and economic development.

The think tank was described by Ken Mufuka in The Financial Gazette as having "jumped on the governmental bandwagon" for its association with the policies of Robert Mugabe.

In 2015, he was named minister of youth development, indigenisation and economic empowerment.

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 the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état.

In October 2017, he was appointed minister of public service, labour and social welfare.

In November 2017, he was expelled from ZANU–PF due to his association with First Lady Grace Mugabe and her Generation 40 faction.

He is now living in exile in South Africa.