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Chiwenga accuses Tagwirei of looting billions from Zanu-PF
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Zimbabwe's ruling party has been rocked by a fierce showdown after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga accused petroleum tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei of siphoning billions of dollars from Zanu-PF to capture its structures and bankroll loyalty networks.
The unprecedented clash erupted during a stormy politburo session in Harare on Wednesday, the last before next month's annual conference. According to insiders, Chiwenga arrived with a dossier that stunned the room of nearly 50 members.
He claimed that Zanu-PF secretly held a 45 percent stake in Sakunda Holdings — a deal dating back to the Robert Mugabe era — but instead of dividends reaching the party, at least US$3.2 billion was diverted by Tagwirei. The shares, Chiwenga said, were held in trust by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Kembo Mohadi, and legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa.
"The party has never received a cent," one source quoted Chiwenga as saying. "Tagwirei used what was essentially Zanu-PF's money to capture its structures, aided by the trustees."
Chiwenga named flamboyant benefactors Wicknell Chivayo, gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya, and GeoPomona boss Delish Nguwaya as conduits of Tagwirei's largesse, demanding their immediate arrest alongside Tagwirei himself.
The vice president went further, accusing Mnangagwa of being the ultimate beneficiary of the billionaire's patronage. He pointed to Chivayo's recent US$1 million donation and fleet of 10 luxury vehicles to provincial chairmen as evidence. In an unusual twist, presidential spokesman George Charamba contradicted Chivayo's boast that the cars were "personal" gifts, insisting they belonged to the party — a position that appeared to support Chiwenga's case.
Tensions escalated when State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke accused Chiwenga of plotting a coup. Chiwenga snapped back, invoking his liberation war credentials and reminding Mnangagwa's allies of his decisive role in the 2017 ouster of Mugabe.
"If I removed Mugabe and invited Mnangagwa back from South Africa, what makes Matuke think I now want to remove him undemocratically?" Chiwenga reportedly shot back.
Mnangagwa, visibly unsettled, appointed a three-member committee — Obert Mpofu, Oppah Muchinguri, and Chinamasa — to investigate the claims. By Thursday, sources said the president was even considering cancelling his scheduled trip to the United Nations General Assembly to contain the escalating crisis.
The fallout spilled into the following day. In a breach of tradition, Mnangagwa skipped the customary pre-briefing with his deputies before a central committee meeting, instead heading straight into the main hall. Chiwenga and Mohadi were forced to scramble after him.
During his address, Mnangagwa appeared to soften the rhetoric of loyalists like Daniel Garwe who had suggested there would be no elections in 2028.
"It is of critical importance that we introspect as a party, not only with regards to our short-term activities, but with the bigger objective that our party wins the 2028 harmonised general elections," he said.
The confrontation has laid bare Zanu-PF's deepest divisions. Chiwenga — long regarded as Mnangagwa's heir apparent — is resisting moves to extend Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028. Meanwhile, Mnangagwa's allies, fearful of retribution under a Chiwenga presidency, are digging in and even floating Tagwirei as a potential successor.
As Zanu-PF heads toward its October conference in Mutare, the clash has set the stage for an explosive power struggle at the very heart of the ruling party.
The unprecedented clash erupted during a stormy politburo session in Harare on Wednesday, the last before next month's annual conference. According to insiders, Chiwenga arrived with a dossier that stunned the room of nearly 50 members.
He claimed that Zanu-PF secretly held a 45 percent stake in Sakunda Holdings — a deal dating back to the Robert Mugabe era — but instead of dividends reaching the party, at least US$3.2 billion was diverted by Tagwirei. The shares, Chiwenga said, were held in trust by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Kembo Mohadi, and legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa.
"The party has never received a cent," one source quoted Chiwenga as saying. "Tagwirei used what was essentially Zanu-PF's money to capture its structures, aided by the trustees."
Chiwenga named flamboyant benefactors Wicknell Chivayo, gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya, and GeoPomona boss Delish Nguwaya as conduits of Tagwirei's largesse, demanding their immediate arrest alongside Tagwirei himself.
The vice president went further, accusing Mnangagwa of being the ultimate beneficiary of the billionaire's patronage. He pointed to Chivayo's recent US$1 million donation and fleet of 10 luxury vehicles to provincial chairmen as evidence. In an unusual twist, presidential spokesman George Charamba contradicted Chivayo's boast that the cars were "personal" gifts, insisting they belonged to the party — a position that appeared to support Chiwenga's case.
Tensions escalated when State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke accused Chiwenga of plotting a coup. Chiwenga snapped back, invoking his liberation war credentials and reminding Mnangagwa's allies of his decisive role in the 2017 ouster of Mugabe.
"If I removed Mugabe and invited Mnangagwa back from South Africa, what makes Matuke think I now want to remove him undemocratically?" Chiwenga reportedly shot back.
Mnangagwa, visibly unsettled, appointed a three-member committee — Obert Mpofu, Oppah Muchinguri, and Chinamasa — to investigate the claims. By Thursday, sources said the president was even considering cancelling his scheduled trip to the United Nations General Assembly to contain the escalating crisis.
The fallout spilled into the following day. In a breach of tradition, Mnangagwa skipped the customary pre-briefing with his deputies before a central committee meeting, instead heading straight into the main hall. Chiwenga and Mohadi were forced to scramble after him.
During his address, Mnangagwa appeared to soften the rhetoric of loyalists like Daniel Garwe who had suggested there would be no elections in 2028.
"It is of critical importance that we introspect as a party, not only with regards to our short-term activities, but with the bigger objective that our party wins the 2028 harmonised general elections," he said.
The confrontation has laid bare Zanu-PF's deepest divisions. Chiwenga — long regarded as Mnangagwa's heir apparent — is resisting moves to extend Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028. Meanwhile, Mnangagwa's allies, fearful of retribution under a Chiwenga presidency, are digging in and even floating Tagwirei as a potential successor.
As Zanu-PF heads toward its October conference in Mutare, the clash has set the stage for an explosive power struggle at the very heart of the ruling party.
Source - Zimlive
