High life to hard fall: Who is Zim businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama?

Zimbabwean businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama has taken a tumble fom from the pedestal he placed himself on after a video of him threatening to murder a group of women who rejected his romantic advances at the Vlamo restaurant went viral.

In the few days that has passed since the incident, the tenderpreneur’s high-flying life has come under scrutiny. This includes being criminally charged for intimidation and being investigated for tender fraud. 

Mudzinganyama’s residential lease at Steyn City has also been terminated as a result of the backlash. He has also been removed from his executive position in the company.

WHO IS LAWRENCE MUDZINGANYAMA?

Here is what we know about the man behind the viral Vlamo restaurant video…

His full name is Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyama. Authorities have identified him as a Zim businessman living in South Africa.

Mudzinganyama has boasted about living in Steyn City and travelling and living in Cape Town, London and the US.

He is the founder and executive chairman of Moriel Infrastructure Group, a multidisciplinary engineering, procurement and construction company.

Moriel has received several multi-million government contracts, including one from SANRAL, valued at R107 million, awarded for the periodic maintenance and resurfacing of the N1 in the Western Cape and Northern Cape. Another reported contract was worth about R71.6 million.

Vlamo Restaurant at Sandton Gate, owned by Mun Manal, who also owns Ukko Restaurant in Bryanston, has distanced itself from a circulating video showing a man threatening a woman after claiming she had rudely denied him.
In the video, the man is heard threatening to kill the woman… pic.twitter.com/6ZhPsStXYV

— Sanele Nkosi (@sanelenkosiii) September 19, 2026

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE VIRAL VLAMO RESTAURANT? 

Since the video of Lawrence Mudzinganyama’s threats against a group of women who rejected his romantic advances went viral, here is what happened:

Vlamo restaurant released a statement, condemning the man’s actions and confirming that a case of intimidation had been opened against him.

Mudzinganyama handed himself over to the police. He will appear in the Randburg Magistrates Court on 1 October.

He has issued a public apology, vowing to seek professional help.

Mudzinganyama’s residential lease at Steyn City has been terminated.

Minister of Transport Barbara Creezy instructed the SANRAL board to investigate a R107 million tender awarded to Mudzinganyama’s engineering and construction company, Moriel Infrastructure Group. SANRAL is seeking legal counsel about Mudzinganyama bringing their reputation into disrepute.

Moriel has removed him from his executive position.

Minister of Public Works, Dean Macpherson, has also called for an investigation over allegations that Mudzinganyama had irregularly acquired multiple gradings from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) all on the same day.

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga urged Lawrence Mudzinganyama to hand himself over to the authorities.

Moriel Infrastructure Group have removed him from his executive position.

Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has stated that authorities are looking into the high-priority investigation against Lawrence Madzinganyama. 

He said during a media briefing: “I’m not sure what the position is in Zimbabwe, but it’s not allowed – it’s illegal, it’s unlawful” in South Africa.

Cachalia urged the Department of Home Affairs to look into Mudzinganyama’s immigration status