Luxury Spending by First Family Elites Spark Outrage as Millions Sink Below Poverty Line
HARARE — Public outrage in Zimbabwe has intensified following fresh revelations of multi-thousand-dollar international shopping sprees by individuals linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inner circle, exposing a stark contrast with the country’s worsening economic crisis.
Socialite and entrepreneur Pokello Nare—who is connected to the ruling family through her relationship with the President’s son, Emmerson Mnangagwa Jr.—has drawn widespread criticism for documented displays of extreme wealth abroad. The expenditures come as millions of Zimbabweans struggle to survive on wages well below the national Total Consumption Poverty Line.
According to travel logs and public media posts, Nare marked her 40th birthday in late August with an opulent excursion to Lake Como, Italy. She traveled in Emirates First Class, where single tickets exceed US$8,000, while wearing luxury designer apparel including a US$2,200 Louis Vuitton pyjama set, US$1,250 sneakers, and carrying a US$9,000 custom trun
The party’s itinerary included shopping in Portofino, where Nare was
documented purchasing high-end items, including a US$4,700 Mini Lady
Dior handbag, and hosting guests in hotel suites costing over US$1,200
per night. In social media posts, Nare captioned the luxury outing
with, “Woke up feeling like Oprah.” Italian news outlet *Il Secolo
XIX* reported the group’s visits to exclusive beach clubs and private
motorboat charters, prompting severe backlash across Southern Africa.
The Lake Como trip is the latest in a series of high-profile financial
displays linked to the family. In December 2019, Mnangagwa Jr.
reportedly purchased a 2020 Range Rover for Nare in South Africa. More
recently, social media footage surfaced depicting Nare inside a Dubai
jewelry store, allegedly examining diamond rings valued at roughly
US$700,000 while wearing a Rolex watch. In 2022, she attended a
concert wearing an outfit priced at nearly US$1,800.
Economic analysts and labor leaders point to these spending sprees as
evidence of growing economic inequality. According to data from the
Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), basic monthly living
costs continue to outpace average household incomes. Key public sector
workers—including state-employed teachers, nurses, and civil
servants—earn approximately US$300 per month, leaving large segments
of the workforce unable to meet baseline food and non-food requirements.
Neither Nare nor representatives for the Mnangagwa family have issue statements regarding the origin of the funds powering these
expenditures. Meanwhile, civil rights groups and opposition figures
continue to demand greater public transparency and accountability
regarding wealth accumulation among elite political figures.
