Zodwa Mkandla Biography | Background | Age | Children | Businesses | Marriage To Ginimbi | Politics
Zodwa Mkandla is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur who was previously married to the late socialite Genius Kadungure, popularly known as Ginimbi. She is the founder and managing director of Traverze Travel, a leading travel agency in Zimbabwe. She is also a member of the Resource Mobilisation Committee for Zanu-PF, the ruling party in Zimbabwe.
Age
Zodwa Mkandla was born on 3 February 1972 in Bubi, Matabeleland. She is 51 years old as of 2023. She grew up in a Christian family and is a member of Uebert Angel’s Spirit Embassy church. She is also the godmother to Tanzanian singer Diamond Platinum’s eldest daughter.
Education
Zodwa Mkandla studied at Mqwassini before attending school in Harare to advance her education. She holds a diploma from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Career and Businesses
Zodwa Mkandla started her career in the tourism industry after being introduced to Nelson Samkange, who worked in that field. She worked as a receptionist for a travel consultant before leaving to establish Traverze Travel in 2003. Traverze Travel is a leading travel agency in Zimbabwe that offers various services, such as flight bookings, hotel reservations, car rentals, visa applications, and holiday packages. Traverze Travel received a lucrative contract for managing the government’s foreign travel bookings, but the tender was later awarded to East Town Holdings, owned by Mary Chiwenga, the former wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, in 2018.
Marriage and family
Zodwa Mkandla and Ginimbi-Image Source@Instagram
Zodwa Mkandla was married to Genius Kadungure, a flamboyant businessman and socialite who died in a car accident in November 2020. The couple got married under the Marriages Act but never had a formal white wedding. They ended their marriage in 2017 after allegations of infidelity. Zodwa Mkandla has two daughters from a previous relationship, namely Precious and Melisa.
Politics
Zodwa Mkandla is a member of the Resource Mobilisation Committee for Zanu-PF, the ruling party in Zimbabwe. The committee was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on July 28, 2021. The committee’s main responsibility is to raise funds for Zanu-PF’s various activities, including preparations for the 2023 elections. Phillip Chiyangwa serves as the committee’s chairperson, with other members including Anthony Pote, Pedzai Sakupwanya, Tafadzwa Musarara, and Evaristo Mudhikwa.
Controversies
In September 2019, Zodwa Mkandla’s company was among five businesses that had their accounts frozen by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The freezing of accounts was due to their involvement in fueling parallel market trading and causing significant damage to the local currency. The parallel market trading refers to the illegal buying and selling of foreign currency at rates higher than the official exchange rate. The other businesses that were implicated were Sakunda Holdings, Access Finance, Spartan Security, and Croco Motors.
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