Tungwarara reignites Zanu-PF power battle

Zanu-PF central committee member and businessman Paul Tungwarara has declared a return to his empowerment programmes in Manicaland, reigniting his rivalry with fellow businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei as competition for influence among President Emmerson Mnangagwa's allies intensifies.

Tungwarara's public re-emergence signals renewed jockeying for political relevance, resources and grassroots support within Zanu-PF at a time when succession debates and questions over Mnangagwa's political future continue to dominate the ruling party.

Addressing party supporters during Zanu-PF's National Cell Day in Ward 6 of Chipinge Central at the weekend, Tungwarara announced that he would resume his empowerment initiatives through party structures after spending time away pursuing business interests.

"Your chairman Tawanda Mukodza was after me over projects in Manicaland. I have been away, for sure. I have been forced to work so that I come back to society," Tungwarara told supporters.

"I am back. I had to go and work and, through Zanu-PF structures, you are going to get empowerment projects."

He said Ward 6, where he is registered as a Zanu-PF member, would be among the first beneficiaries of the renewed programme.

"This is my ward and you are going to benefit more from my projects," he said.

As part of the gathering, Tungwarara handed US$50 to each of the 50 party members who attended the cell meeting.

The announcement comes amid growing competition between Tungwarara and Tagwirei, whose expanding political influence has increasingly overlapped with Tungwarara's activities, particularly in Manicaland, a province regarded as one of Tungwarara's political strongholds.

The latest tensions follow Tagwirei's recent pledge to finance development projects in the province. According to party sources, the pledge, delivered through his ally Obey Chimuka during the funeral of Harry Dumba in Makoni District, angered senior Zanu-PF figures aligned to Tungwarara.

Tagwirei has sponsored several development initiatives in Manicaland, including borehole drilling, road rehabilitation and charitable projects, further strengthening his profile within the province.

The rivalry first spilled into the public domain in January when Tungwarara, founder of Prevail Group International and Special Presidential Investment Adviser, criticised unnamed wealthy individuals whom he accused of attempting to buy political influence, positioning themselves as successors to Mnangagwa and interfering in government appointments.

Although he did not mention Tagwirei by name, the remarks were widely interpreted as targeting the influential businessman. The comments triggered a backlash from figures aligned to Tagwirei and were followed by the suspension of Tungwarara's Presidential Economic Empowerment Revolving Fund as well as the withdrawal of approvals for some of his projects.

In February, however, Tungwarara attempted to calm speculation of a fallout, describing Tagwirei as his "mentor and brother."

Despite those assurances, divisions have continued to play out publicly, with rival Zanu-PF activists on social media backing either Tungwarara or Tagwirei in an increasingly visible contest for influence.

The rivalry attracted further attention after Tungwarara presented social media personality Rutendo Matinyarare with a luxury vehicle and US$200 000, saying the money was intended to persuade him to stop attacking Mnangagwa and members of the First Family.

Matinyarare had previously alleged that Tagwirei owed him money for lobbying work linked to campaigns advocating for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Some Zanu-PF activists claimed Tungwarara's financial support for Matinyarare was intended to weaken Tagwirei's influence, although Tungwarara has never publicly endorsed that interpretation.

Since rising to prominence in 2022, Tungwarara has secured several government-linked projects, including the Presidential Borehole Scheme, the Presidential War Veterans Borehole Scheme, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme and the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Programme.

In 2024, he was appointed Special Presidential Investment Adviser to the United Arab Emirates and has also been associated with the US$500 million Zim Cyber City project in Mount Hampden, being developed by UAE-based Mulk International.

The renewed contest between Tungwarara and Tagwirei reflects broader fault lines emerging within Zanu-PF, where a new generation of wealthy businessmen is increasingly competing for influence alongside the party's traditional leadership and liberation war veterans.

The internal power struggle comes as divisions continue to widen over proposals to extend Mnangagwa's tenure beyond 2028, with competing factions seeking to consolidate their influence ahead of the ruling party's next political chapter.