Chidawu suffers a heart attack hours after attending event with Mnangagwa

Oliver Chidawu, the provincial affairs minister for Harare collapsed and died this morning at his home.

He was 68.

Chidawu reportedly suffered a heart attack on Monday night, hours after attending an event at the Art Gallery in Harare with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He died in the early hours of Tuesday.

Douglas Mahiya, the secretary of the war veterans association, confirmed Chidawu's death at a news conference at the Zanu-PF headquarters.

"He was known for the good things that promote the party (Zanu-PF)," Mahiya said. "It's going to be difficult to replace him."

Chidawu, a staunch ally and financial backer of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was appointed minister of state for provincial affairs and devolution for Harare province in March 2019.

A wealthy businessman, Chidawu was 29 when he became the youngest ever mayor of Harare in 1984.

A chartered engineer, Chidawu was founder of the Kuchi Group of Companies and was a shareholder in Bitumen Construction, a company which has several government contracts for the construction and repair of roads.

He was a former chairman of the African Banking Corporation and sat on the boards of Bindura Nickel Corp, Star Africa Corp, Pelhams and Zimplow.