Mutumwa Mawere funeral contributions causes bitter dispute

A bitter dispute has erupted between two families claiming authority over the control of funeral contributions and arrangements for the late businessman and industrialist Mutumwa Dziva Mawere, who died in Sandton, Johannesburg, last Thursday at the age of 66.

The disagreement centres on who has the mandate to receive and manage funeral contributions following the circulation of competing social media messages, including a memorial poster naming contact persons and providing banking and mobile money transfer details. One faction of the family has condemned the move as suspicious, disrespectful and unauthorised.

Speaking on behalf of one side of the family, Alex Mawere, the designated spokesperson for the immediate Mawere family, said relatives were shocked by what he described as questionable conduct taking place while close family members were still mourning and arranging travel.

"While we are still grappling with the demise of our beloved family member, we have sadly noted social media messages circulating to the effect that we are seeking funeral contributions," Alex said.

"We feel that such a level of disrespect, especially during a moment like this, is not only inhuman but defies the very basic tenets of ubuntu."

Alex said the family had not discussed or agreed on fundraising, arguing that Mawere's stature made such an initiative unnecessary at this stage.

"We hereby categorically state that as a family, we have not deliberated on the need to fundraise considering the stature of the man we are mourning today," he said.

"While there is nothing innately sinister about seeking contributions when death strikes, there is everything wrong when distant people capitalise on the death of our family member to cash in on unsuspecting members of the public."

He said the family had taken note of messages directing mourners to send money to the electronic wallet of one Shau Mudekunye via the Paystack platform, as well as to an Investec Bank Limited account held by Dr R G Machiri, without the family's knowledge or consent.

"These individuals are acting on their own accord without the knowledge of the family members," Alex said.

"The glaring exclusion of any Mawere family member on the messages making reference to Shau Mudekunye and Dr R G Machiri on sensitive family matters of this nature is not only strange, but disturbing."

Alex stressed that burial arrangements, including all financial matters related to the funeral, were a collective family responsibility that could not be decided unilaterally by individuals outside the immediate family.

However, another group identifying itself as family issued a memorial poster and payment details last Thursday, announcing that mourners were gathering at Number 62 Cambridge Road in Bryanston, Sandton.

In the poster, the group stated: "As a family we are humbled by the support and grace that has been shown as we understand we share him with many people who loved and respected him. Thank you for keeping Mutumwa and his family in your prayers as we all go through this difficult time."

WhatsApp communications seen by this publication show that the same group shared banking and mobile money transfer details for what they described as funeral contributions, a move that has further deepened tensions between the two sides.

The dispute now threatens to overshadow the legacy of Mutumwa Mawere, a towering figure in business whose life and work earned admiration across Africa and beyond. Since his passing, tributes have continued to pour in from business leaders, politicians and ordinary citizens, even as uncertainty persists over who legitimately controls funeral contributions made in his name.