By Lungile Moyo
Samuel Rahamin Levy (1929–2012) was a Zimbabwean businessman and property developer.
Levy was born to a Jewish family in pre-independence QueQue, now Kwekwe, on 9 October 1929.
He was educated at Prince Edward School in Salisbury, now Harare.
Levy was a self-made millionaire and at the time of his death in 2012, he was reputed to be one of the richest people in Zimbabwe.
He was given the name “kanyuchi”, the Shona word for a bee relating to his character which gave back as much as it got.
In the 1960s Levy founded and chaired Macey’s Stores Limited, a large supermarket group and in 1973 he purchased Duly’s car showroom on Angwa Street.
The business, bought for US$1.5 million, was then converted into a department store.
The place would later on be converted into a shopping centre known as Ximex Mall.
Levy successfully contested in the Salisbury council elections in 1975 and served as a councillor for Ward 8.
It covered the capital city’s southern district of Waterfalls and he served it until 1979.
Levy ended up being a close friend of a former guerrilla leader, the later General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru.
This was very unlike many of the Rhodesian white entrepreneurs who had a distinct characteristic of seclusion.
However, those who knew him well state that he would associate with anybody with “constructive” orientation.
Borrowdale Village
Sam Levy’s Village shopping mall in Borrowdale, his eponymous creation, was built in 1990.
It was designed in such a way that it has since been dubbed “Little England”.
This is due to its inclusion of buildings resembling English cottages and a clock tower similar to Big Ben.
Levy built Sam Levy’s Village without the support of the local community which was against the idea of having a shopping centre in a residential neighbourhood.
When Levy built the mall, there was no provision for public toilets for years.
He only responded to regularisation following an outcry from patrons and threats of demolitions from Harare City Council.
The mall has become the largest and most prestigious shopping mall in the country.
During the Land Reform program Levy lost his Lilfordia Farm on the outskirts of Harare.
However, he managed to retain his massive farmhouse built on a hill.
In June 2012 Levy succumbed to cancer.
He was posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Victor Night Awards.
Under the United Nations’ Empretec program he was also recognised as one of the Most Influential Entrepreneurs in post-independent Zimbabwe.
