Mutapa Investment Fund


The Mutapa Investment Fund, formerly the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe, is a state-owned sovereign wealth fund established to manage Zimbabwe’s strategic investments and promote sustainable economic growth. Established in 2014 under the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe Act , it was renamed in September 2023 through Statutory Instrument 156 of 2023, following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election. Named after the historical Mutapa Empire, the fund manages a portfolio of over 30 state-owned enterprises across sectors including mining, energy, infrastructure, financial services, and agriculture, with a mission to create generational wealth and support Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 for upper-middle-income status.

History

The concept for the Mutapa Investment Fund driven by George Guvamatanga emerged from a 2012 mining sector policy study advocating for a sovereign wealth fund to capitalize on Zimbabwe’s natural resources, particularly minerals like diamonds, gold, and platinum. The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe Act was passed in 2014, establishing the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe, seeded with 25% of royalties from special mining grants and other levies. Progress was hampered by economic challenges, including hyperinflation and currency instability.
In September 2023, President Mnangagwa used the Presidential Powers Act to change the name of the fund to Mutapa Investment Fund and transfer ownership of 20 SOEs to its portfolio. The renaming, inspired by the Mutapa Empire’s historical significance, aimed to signal a revitalized economic strategy. The restructuring drew criticism for bypassing parliamentary approval and raising transparency concerns, though supporters argued it would streamline SOE management and drive growth.

Role of George Guvamatanga

was involved in designing the legal framework for the efficient movement of SOEs into the Mutapa Investment Fund:
  • Transfer of SOEs: The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, using special powers, transferred the ownership of approximately 20 State-Owned Entities across key sectors into the Mutapa Investment Fund.
  • Defence of the Framework: As the Permanent Secretary of Finance, Guvamatanga has been the public face defending the structure of the new Fund, including the use of Presidential Powers to enact the changes and the move of SOEs into its control. He was instrumental in the technical design and execution of the legal instrument that facilitated this mass transfer and exempted the Fund from certain public procurement laws. This legal move is often seen as the "efficient movement" of SOEs, as it bypasses lengthy legislative procedures and procurement rules for the Fund itself.

Objectives and mandate

The Mutapa Investment Fund’s objectives, as outlined in its founding act, are to:
  • Make sustainable and profitable investments for the benefit of current and future generations.
  • Support Zimbabwe’s economic and social development goals.
  • Enhance the performance of SOEs through improved governance and recapitalization.
  • Contribute to fiscal and macroeconomic stabilization.
  • The fund pursues a diversified investment strategy, leveraging the balance sheets of its portfolio companies and fostering partnerships with global investors to align with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030. Unlike commodity-based funds like Norway’s Government Pension Fund, MIF invests across multiple sectors to maximize returns and reduce reliance on volatile resource markets.

Portfolio and investments

As of 30 June 2024, the Mutapa Investment Fund managed assets valued at approximately US$16 billion, comprising shares in over 30 SOEs and strategic investments. Its portfolio includes 66 wholly or partially owned entities such as:
  • Kuvimba Mining House: A mining conglomerate with assets in gold, lithium, platinum, and nickel.
  • ZESA Holdings: Zimbabwe’s national electricity supplier.
  • Zimbabwe United Passenger Company : A public transport operator.
  • National Railways of Zimbabwe : The country’s rail network.
  • Zimre Holdings: An insurance and real estate company.
  • Defold Mine and Fidelity Gold Refinery: Mining and gold processing entities.
  • People’s Own Savings Bank and Agribank: Financial institutions.
  • Silkway: A trading company.
In April 2024, MIF acquired a 35% stake in Kuvimba Mining House for US$1.6 billion, a transaction that increased Zimbabwe’s national debt by US$1.9 billion and raised concerns about overvaluation and links to private investors, including Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a presidential advisor. The fund has also pursued international collaborations, signing a joint project preparation facility framework agreement with the African Export-Import Bank to support infrastructure and industrial projects.

Governance and structure

The Mutapa Investment Fund is wholly owned by the Republic of Zimbabwe, with the President acting as trustee and the Ministry of Finance and Investment Promotion providing oversight. The fund’s board, appointed by the President in consultation with the Finance Minister, must include members with expertise in finance, economics, business, or law and adhere to gender balance requirements. As of November 2023, the board comprises:
  • Chipo Mtasa
  • Lesley Ndlovu
  • Thembelihle Khumalo, Farai Mtamangira, Bart Mswaka, Charity Jinya, Prassad Bhamre

Key executives include

  • John Mangudya, CEO
  • Simba Chinyemba, Chief Investment Officer
  • Chiedza Jaravani, Head of Cluster: Infrastructure – Telecommunications and Logistics
  • Tatenda Chimusoro, Head of Industrials Cluster
MIF is exempt from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, granting flexibility in asset transactions but prompting concerns about transparency and potential money laundering risks.

Controversies

Since its 2023 restructuring, the Mutapa Investment Fund has faced significant criticism:
  • Governance and Transparency: Critics, including former Finance Minister Tendai Biti and lawyer Fadzayi Mahere, have described MIF as a potential “looting vehicle” due to its exemption from procurement laws and lack of parliamentary oversight.
  • Kuvimba Acquisition: The US$1.6 billion purchase of a 35% stake in Kuvimba Mining House in 2024 was criticized for overvaluation and alleged benefits to private investors connected to the ruling party.
  • Legal Challenges: In October 2023, Harare lawyer Frederick Nyamande filed a lawsuit against President Emerson Mnangagwa, arguing that the fund’s structure enables unchecked control over public resources.
  • Public Perception: Social media platforms like X have highlighted public distrust, with concerns about the fund’s opacity and mismanagement risks.
  • Supporters argue that, if managed transparently, MIF could emulate successful sovereign wealth funds like the Ethiopian Investment Holdings or the Investment Corporation of Dubai, driving economic growth through SOE reform.

Economic impact

The Mutapa Investment Fund is positioned as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, aiming to mobilize savings, create jobs, enhance technological advancement, and attract foreign investment. Its efforts to revitalize SOEs, such as the National Railways of Zimbabwe and ZESA Holdings, have shown mixed progress, with ongoing reforms focused on corporate governance and operational efficiency. Transparency and accountability remain critical to maintaining public and investor confidence.