Genius Kadungure is a popular and controversial Zimbabwean socialite and businessman. He is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of a gas company, Pioneer Gasses, which has interests in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Kadungure is known for throwing wild parties and for allegedly dating several married woman, claims which he does not deny. In 2014 he was arrested and tried on allegations of defrauding a Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) member and a Kadoma-based miner of 1,581,890 South African Rands.
Kadungure was born in Domboshava in a family of four.
Business Career
He started hustling in search of a decent livelihood at the age of 17. Soon he became a middle man securing gas for domestic users. Since he had a friend who worked at the Angolan Airways offices, he quickly secured his first ever contract through his friend. After signing the contract, Kadungure followed up on many gas users and that is when his fortunes turned. Within a year in the business he was already driving and two years later he had a Mercedes Benz S Class something considered by many locally to be a symbol of success.[1] He went on to form, Pioneer Gasses. The company supplies gas to the commercial, industrial, public and retail sectors. The company also offers delivery services by tanker to major facilities with their own storage and also sell gas bottles in a range of popular sizes.[2]
Wild Parties
Kadungure, who is also known as the king of bling, is known for throwing lavish parties. In 2010, he threw one of the most expensive all white birthday bashes in Harare, where an estimated US$17,000 was spent. The party drew scores of people from Harare’s northern suburbs and guests were treated to high-end whiskey, bright coloured cocktails, champagne, as well as cigars at his Greystone Park home for three consecutive days.[3]Two years later, in 2012, Kadungure hosted another extravagant birthday party which was held in Botswana. The party is said to have gobbled an estimated P250,000 (exchange value of US $32,000 at that time). In 2013, Kadungure also held a consecutive three-day long party at his rural home in Domboshava to celebrate a newly-built mansion he had put up in the area.
Controversies
Many Women
Kadungure is reported to be involved with many married women. It has been reported that many times he had been beaten up by husbands of women he had sexual relations with. On these claims, Kadungure said it was normal. In January 2014, he made headlines when it was revealed that he had been looking after another man’s child for the past 11 years. This came to light after one Doreen Mutukwa demanded an upward review of maintenance fees to $1,500. This led to Genius demanding a paternity test and the outcome showed that Kadungure was not the father of the child.[4]
Fraud Allegations
In May 2014 Kadungure was arrested on allegations of fraud. He allegedly swindled ZANU-PF MP for Chegutu West Dexter Nduna, who is the managing director of Badon Enterprises, and a Kadoma-based miner only identified as Gatawa of R1,581,890. Kadungure is reported to have created a fictitious company named Transco Civil Engineering purportedly based in South Africa and opened an ABSA bank account for the company. He then contacted the complainants over the phone and misrepresented himself as the chief buyer for Marange Resources looking for mining pumps at competitive prices, it was alleged. In December 2011 Gatawa sent his brother Enock to South Africa to purchase the pumps. He was ordered to deposit R1,046,890 for the purchase of 10 flight pumps in the ABSA bank account. After the transfers, Enock was told by Transco Civil Engineering “officials” to go back to Zimbabwe and check for his parcel with DHL in three days time. He only received a parcel of cellphone chargers.[5]
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