The story of Sakunda Holdings and Zanu-PF

A confidential document authored by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and presented to the Zanu-PF politburo on September 17 has surfaced, revealing stunning allegations of grand corruption and looting of state funds amounting to over US$3.2 billion. The dossier names prominent businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, along with Wicknell Chivayo, Pedzisayi "Scott" Sakupwanya, and Delish Nguwaya, as central figures in what Chiwenga describes as a "brazen and systematic" theft of public resources.

In the seven-page document addressed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and senior party officials, Chiwenga accuses the business moguls of capturing state institutions and manipulating Zanu-PF structures using their wealth. He further alleges that 45% of Sakunda Holdings - Tagwirei's flagship company - actually belongs to Zanu-PF through a little-known entity, Mvuto Investments (Private) Limited, yet the party has not received any dividends from this stake.

"Comrade President, these criminals and their associates have been engaged in a brazen and systematic campaign of stealing from our government, and to date, they have stolen more than US$3.2 billion of government funds," Chiwenga reportedly wrote. He detailed various fraudulent payments amounting to US$1.9 billion, US$800 million, US$238 million, and US$222 million through state transactions, accusing the businessmen of draining national coffers while ordinary citizens suffer.

"Even mealie meal is now running out because of maize shortages while we are prioritising paying these criminals," Chiwenga lamented. "Hospitals are running out of critical medicines, and now the same people who are stealing our assets and resources are using these funds to hijack power, corrupt our structures, and destroy our party. The time for silence and inaction is over."

He further accused Tagwirei and his associates of creating a "parallel power structure funded by the very state they are destroying," adding that they were using stolen wealth to manipulate the party and influence policy. Chiwenga demanded their immediate arrest, warning that failure to act could lead to the disintegration of both the ruling party and the government.

The document also claims that Zanu-PF's 45% stake in Sakunda was secretly held through Mvuto Investments, part of the National Reconstruction Group - an obscure party investment vehicle. This group, Chiwenga said, also concealed Zanu-PF's ownership in Kusena Diamonds, a company linked to the Central Intelligence Organisation during the peak of diamond mining in Chiadzwa.

Sakunda Holdings, founded by Tagwirei in 2001, initially focused on fuel distribution before expanding into energy, agriculture finance, and mining. Over the years, it grew into one of Zimbabwe's largest conglomerates, largely through lucrative government contracts. Tagwirei has maintained that he started the company using proceeds from selling his Westgate home for over US$20,000, which funded the purchase of two fuel tankers.

A partnership with Swiss commodities giant Trafigura in 2011 gave Sakunda exclusive access to the Beira oil pipeline, cementing its dominance in Zimbabwe's fuel supply chain. However, in 2019, the company was barred from the fuel sector following nationwide shortages and protests that nearly triggered another military intervention.

Tagwirei was placed under US sanctions in 2020 for alleged corruption and state capture, accusations he has consistently denied. Following the sanctions, he restructured his business empire, transferring mining assets from Sotic International and Landela Mining Ventures into Kuvimba Mining House - later fully acquired by the government.

Despite numerous investigations by watchdog organisations such as Open Secrets and The Sentry linking him to illicit financial flows, Tagwirei has maintained that his business dealings are legitimate. He is currently the only Zimbabwean on the United Kingdom's sanctions list.

Chiwenga's leaked dossier represents one of the most serious internal challenges to Mnangagwa's leadership since the 2017 coup that brought him to power. Political analysts say the revelations deepen the rift within Zanu-PF's top ranks, with the vice-president positioning himself as a defender of the party's "founding values" against a powerful elite accused of looting the state.