Tagwirei Leverages Money On Succession

Battle Between Cash and the Gun Heated

As local multi-millionaire tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s succession train gathers momentum amid the 2030 campaign wave, money has become central to the battle to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa and is increasingly becoming the decisive factor with the Sakunda Holdings boss having splurged at least half a billion on politics during the past decade.

Informed Zanu PF insiders say Tagwirei, battling Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and his military-backed Zanu PF faction, has spent at least US$500 million across three general elections – 2013, 2018 and 2023 – and on the ruling party, its leaders and government officials, including the security sector, and ordinary people since he started funding official politics and associated patronage more than a decade ago.

In a briefing yesterday, a senior Zanu PF official told The NewsHawks:

“Tagwirei has spent hundreds of millions of US dollars on the party and associated activities, including elections and their expensive logistics, party bills such as salaries, allowances and office furnishings and equipment, cars, houses, donations for projects, and cash amounts to scores of cronies on his growing huge patronage network.

Anonymous source

“Between the elections in 2013 and 2023, he spent hundreds of millions of US dollars on politics.

“He is using money to shape and influence politics primarily through election campaign finance, lobbying, and strategic leveraging of wealth to impact party structures, loyalties and internal voting patterns.

The influence of money and infleunce-peddling is not always good, but his approach empowers the ordinary poor people.

Just recently, Tagwirei spent millions, at least US$21 million, to purchase about 300 Ford Ranger twin-cab vehicles for our Central Committee members and more on politburo officials.

He also spent a lot on the Harare provincial executive, including on the Provincial Coordinating Committee, as he bid for Central Committee co-option.

Now, he has poured over US$5 million into various empowerment and developmental initiatives in Zanu PF Harare province alone.

Tagwirei funded US$3 million out of our US$4 million budget for the annual conference in Mutare. Harare’s DCC 6 structures will get a huge package of empowerment and community upliftment initiatives, reflecting his commitment to the party.

At least US$450 000 has been allocated for development by President Mnangagwa, with the mother body, women’s league, youth league and war veterans getting US$112 500 each.

Persons with disabilities in DCC 6 will receive US$50 000 in assistance.

Communities will benefit from the 120 solar-powered boreholes, while the health services sector will be improved through construction of 10 clinics, five of which will include maternity wards.

Further, US$50 000 was allocated specifically to war veterans as part of a larger US$200 000 donation.

A war veteran widow, for example, got US$50 000 in total (US$25 000 for house renovations and US$25 000 cash).

Tagwirei will cover US$2 500 funeral policies for war veterans and their spouses in Harare.”

Tagwirei, according to insiders, is now becoming unstoppable after he was the green light to campaign by Mnangagwa.

Another insider added:

“Tagwirei and his wife, through the Bridging Gaps Foundation, have committed significant funds to various developmental and charity works, something which is deeply intertwined with his political ambition and maneuvering. He is a long-time benefactor of the party, our leaders and structures. No single individual has ever done this for Zanu PF in its whole 62-year history. No one. His resources are a material game-changer in a big way. Yes, others don’t like it, but it’s not ordinary party members; it’s his internal rivals who also want to be President, yet they don’t have meaningful resources and capacity like him. His wherewithal – money – will be decisive, even though some think the gun will have the final say.”