Harare — The untimely death a fortnight ago of distinguished lawyer, insurance practitioner and corporate leader, Mr Muzanenhamo Eric Kahari has robbed the business community of one of its greatest sons.

Born in Zimbabwe in 1939, Mr Kahari was a registered legal practitioner holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wilberforce University, United States and a Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland State University Law School.

On his return to Zimbabwe in 1980, Mr Kahari joined the Deeds and Company Registry in the Ministry of Justice as Deputy Chief Registrar.

He left in 1984 to form Zimbabwe-Reinsurance Company Limited and was seconded in 1986 to establish Zimbabwe Insurance Brokers Limited.

In January 1987, Mr Kahari joined Lion of Zimbabwe Insurance Company Limited as general manager and became managing director in June 1987

Mr Kahari served on a number of company boards including Zimnat Lion Insurance Limited, Tetrad Securities, Colcom Holdings Limited, the then Founders Building Society and Modus Publications (Private) Limited.

Mr Kahari retired from Zimnat Lion Insurance Company in May 2002.

He was the first managing director of Zimnat Lion following the merger of Lion Zimbabwe with Zimnat Insurance Company in 1999. He supervised and managed a successful merger of the two companies.

Mr Kahari's contribution to the insurance industry was immense and his style of management brought together a cohesive team of managers and staff and was admired and respected by the insurance broking fraternity whose relationships he treasured and nurtured.

In the late 1990s, Mr Kahari sat and chaired several boards including OK Zimbabwe, Rio Tinto, Zimre and Delta.

At the time of his death, he was chairing the RioZim board, Cell Insurance and then OK Zimbabwe when it was listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in 2001 and also served as deputy chairman at Colcom Holdings.

At Cell Insurance Mr Kahari worked with other renowned insurance practitioners such as Mr David Birch who was managing director of a leading insurance broker for a number of years.

During his time in the corporate world he worked with notables such as OK Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Willard Zireva, Mr Albert Nhau, Mr Herbert Nkala, Mr Albert Katsande, Mr Josphat Sachikonye, Mr Ellias Mushayakarara, Mr Robbie Mupawose and many other undoubted businesspersons.

Tributes which flowed in following his death also serve as testimony of the astute businessman and leader that Mr Kahari was and will be sorely missed by all his contemporaries.