Prominent politician and banker Dr Munyaradzi Kereke, 55, has died in Harare after suffering a stroke.

He was admitted at a private hospital in Harare on September 29 with uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure leading to his death.

Kereke rose to prominence during Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation crisis as one of Dr Gono’s closest advisors at the Reserve Bank between 2005 and 2012.

An economist by training, he later ventured into business, founding Ruwa-based Fortress Hospital and other companies.

He entered politics in 2013 when he won the Bikita West parliamentary seat as an independent after losing ZANU PF primaries.

His political career ended in July 2016 when Harare Regional Magistrate Noel Mupeiwa convicted him of raping his 11-year-old niece at gunpoint between March and August 2010.

He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with four years suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective 10-year term.

Kereke was acquitted on a second charge of indecent assault.

The conviction was historic as it resulted from a private prosecution.

After the National Prosecuting Authority declined to prosecute, Harare lawyer Charles Warara privately prosecuted the case on behalf of the victim’s family.

Kereke appealed, losing at the High Court.

He was released on $500,000 bail pending Supreme Court appeal in August 2021 with 20 months remaining.

On May 31, 2024, a three-judge panel of the Supreme Court – Justices Samuel Kudya, Tendai Uchena and George Chiweshe – unanimously upheld both conviction and sentence.

The court ruled that the complainant’s testimony was credible and supported by medical evidence, and that Kereke’s alibi defence was false and his witnesses had been coached.

He was returned to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to finish his sentence.

Legal Challenges

Outside the rape case, Kereke faced other legal troubles, including fraud allegations linked to the sale of Fortress Hospital.

In June 2025, he lodged a misconduct complaint against Justice Chiweshe with the Judicial Service Commission, alleging private contact while his appeal was pending.

The complaint triggered disciplinary proceedings which were still before the courts.