As U.S. Sanctions Loomed, a Tycoon ‘Mopped Up’ Zimbabwe’s Scarce Dollars, and Acquired a Lucrative Platinum Mine As Zimbabweans faced the economic consequences of a crashing currency, well-connected businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei skirted the rules to convert government-backed securities into scarce U.S. dollars —which he used to acquire shares in a lucrative platinum mine.