- Harpal Randhawa is the owner of RioZim, a diversified mining company producing gold and coal as well as refining nickel and copper.
- The incident occurred when their private plane crashed near a diamond mine
- The ill-fated aircraft, that crashed, belonged to RioZim.
- The Cessna that took off from Harare, was on its way to the Murowa diamond mine, also partly owned by the company.
- The crash took place when the aircraft was nearing its destination, and all six people on board were killed.
- Randhawa was also serving as the Chairman of GEM Holdings, a private equity firm, that is now worth $4 billion, founded by him.
- As per Ajay Bagga, Chairman, Elyments Platforms Private Limited, Harpal was planning another venture in India.
- Amer Randhawa, meanwhile, was a trained pilot and was traveling as a passenger on the flight.
Indian billionaire and mining tycoon Harpal Randhawa and his 22-year-old son Amer were among six people who died in a plane crash in Zimbabwe on September 29, as per the news agency’s report. The tragic incident occurred when their private plane crashed near a diamond mine in southwestern Zimbabwe after experiencing a technical fault
Notably, Harpal Randhawa is the owner of RioZim, a diversified mining company producing gold and coal as well as refining nickel and copper. Mr Randhawa also founded the $4-billion private equity business GEM Holdings.
The mining tycoon and his son were traveling in a Cessna 206 aircraft, privately owned by RioZim. They were enroute from Harare to the Murowa diamond mine when the accident happened. The single-engine aircraft crashed near the Murowa Diamonds mine, which is partly owned by RioZim. All passengers and crew onboard died in the accident.
Filmmaker Hopewell Chinono, a friend of Mr Randhawa, condoled his death on X and wrote, ”I am deeply saddened with the passing of Harpal Randhawa, the owner of Rio Zim who died in a plane crash in Zvishavane. 5 other people including his son who was also a pilot, but a passenger on this flight also died in the crash.”
(With inputs from agencies)
