By Advent Shoko
Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) senior adviser and Bikita West legislator Dr Munyaradzi Kereke has died in Harare, the family has confirmed.
Kereke died early Tuesday morning at The Avenues Clinic, where he had been receiving treatment after suffering a stroke.
He had reportedly been admitted to the clinic’s intensive care unit as his condition deteriorated.
His death brings to an end the turbulent life of a banker, politician and public figure whose career moved from Zimbabwe’s financial sector to Parliament before being overshadowed by a criminal conviction.
From banking to the RBZ
Kereke was regarded as an accomplished banker before entering public life.
His career took a major turn when he left Stanbic Bank after being recruited to work at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe under then governor Dr Gideon Gono.
At the RBZ, Kereke rose to become a senior adviser to Gono and became a prominent figure within the central bank.
His relationship with Gono, however, later deteriorated, resulting in a highly publicised fallout between the former colleagues.
Kereke subsequently turned his attention to politics.
From banker to legislator
He contested the Bikita West parliamentary seat and won, becoming a legislator.
His political career, however, was later overshadowed by a criminal case involving the rape of a 12-year-old relative.
Kereke was convicted and sentenced to prison, a development that dramatically changed his public standing.
In 2024, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction and confirmed an effective 10-year prison sentence.
He had been released on bail while pursuing his appeal but was returned to prison after the Supreme Court ruling.
Stroke after release
After his release from prison, Kereke suffered a stroke and subsequently required medical treatment.
His condition worsened in recent days, leading to his admission to the intensive care unit at The Avenues Clinic in Harare.
He died early Tuesday morning, according to his family.
Kereke’s life was marked by sharp contrasts, from a promising career in banking and senior responsibilities at the country’s central bank to Parliament, a bitter institutional fallout and ultimately a criminal conviction that came to dominate the later years of his public life.
His death is likely to renew debate about the complicated legacy of a man who once occupied influential positions in Zimbabwe’s financial and political establishment.
The family has confirmed his death. Further details about funeral arrangements are expected to be announced.
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