Harare, Zimbabwe – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has taken the extraordinary step of publicly confronting petroleum tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, demanding his immediate arrest over an alleged US$3.2 billion corruption scandal that, according to Chiwenga, has hollowed out Zanu PF and captured its structures. The unprecedented clash exposed deep fissures within the ruling party and highlighted tensions between military-backed leadership and influential business allies.
The confrontation unfolded during a stormy Zanu PF politburo meeting on Wednesday, where Chiwenga presented a dossier accusing Tagwirei of siphoning funds from a secret 45 percent party stake in Sakunda Holdings, reportedly held in trust by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, former Vice President Kembo Mohadi, and Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa.
Insiders at the meeting revealed that Chiwenga alleged the party had never received a cent from the investment. “Instead, the billions were used to capture Zanu PF structures, with the complicity of the trustees,” one source said. The dossier claims that instead of benefitting the party, the funds were redirected to enrich Tagwirei and his allies, collectively referred to as the Zvigananda.
Chiwenga’s accusations also implicated Mnangagwa as the ultimate beneficiary, alleging that the president had indirectly profited from the diversion of funds. The dossier cited examples such as Chivayo’s recent donation of US$1 million and ten luxury vehicles to provincial leaders, presented as evidence of illicit patronage aimed at securing loyalty.
The meeting quickly turned contentious. In a twist, presidential spokesman George Charamba insisted the vehicles were party property, undermining Chivayo’s claim that they were personal gifts and lending weight to Chiwenga’s accusations.
VP Chiwenga Confronts Kudakwashe Tagwirei Over Alleged US$3.2 Billion Corruption Scandal
Tensions escalated further when State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke accused Chiwenga of plotting to seize power. The Vice President responded sharply, reminding the politburo of his role in removing former President Robert Mugabe and facilitating Mnangagwa’s return to power. “If I removed Mugabe and invited Mnangagwa back, what makes Matuke think I now want to remove him undemocratically?” Chiwenga said.
Faced with mounting pressure, Mnangagwa appointed a committee led by Obert Mpofu, Oppah Muchinguri, and Patrick Chinamasa to investigate the claims. Insiders indicated that the president even considered canceling his planned UN General Assembly trip to personally manage the crisis.
By Thursday, tensions were spilling over into party operations. Mnangagwa skipped his customary pre-briefing with Chiwenga and Mohadi before addressing the central committee. In his remarks, he appeared to temper loyalists’ calls for a “2030 agenda” to extend his rule, instead urging party members to focus on the 2028 harmonised general elections. “It is of critical importance that we introspect as a party… with the bigger objective that our party wins the 2028 harmonised general elections,” he told the central committee.
Observers say the confrontation has exposed Zanu PF’s deepest internal rift: Mnangagwa’s reliance on wealthy allies and oligarchs to fund the party versus Chiwenga’s pushback against extending presidential tenure beyond 2028. Many of Mnangagwa’s loyalists, fearing prosecution under a potential Chiwenga-led administration, have doubled down on their support, with some reportedly touting Tagwirei as a potential successor.
In a subtle warning to party financiers, Mnangagwa said during the central committee meeting: “Those splashing money without traceable sources should be arrested.” The remark came less than 24 hours after Chiwenga’s dossier had named the Zvigananda as corrupt actors who have captured both state and party structures.
Political analysts say Chiwenga’s public challenge to Tagwirei marks a high-stakes escalation in the battle for influence within Zanu PF. The clash pits a vice president with military backing against a president increasingly shielded by wealthy allies and entrenched party networks. With the Zanu PF October conference looming, the confrontation signals a likely showdown at the top, with the struggle for control of party structures and resources set to intensify.
For now, the confrontation has thrust issues of corruption, loyalty, and succession to the forefront of national politics. Chiwenga’s move has galvanized debate over the role of powerful businessmen in party politics and the accountability of political leaders who rely on private funding to sustain their influence.
As Zanu PF navigates this internal crisis, all eyes are on the party’s leadership to see how the allegations against Tagwirei and the Zvigananda will be addressed, and whether Chiwenga’s challenge will reshape the balance of power ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Source- ZimEye
