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Kasukuwere viciously attacks Tagwirei
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Former Zanu-PF political commissar and cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere has launched a scathing attack on controversial businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, accusing him of being the embodiment of state-linked corruption that is crippling Zimbabwe's economy.
This comes in response to remarks made by Tagwirei during a business event in Bulawayo this week, where the Sakunda Holdings boss branded Kasukuwere "one of the most corrupt people I know."
In a sharp rebuttal, Kasukuwere dismissed the claims as "false and malicious," accusing Tagwirei of attempting to deflect attention from his own questionable dealings.
"That one, Tagwirei, is the most corrupt person that I know in Zimbabwe," Kasukuwere declared.
"He didn't even deny that he is corrupt. He merely said, ‘some people who complain about corruption are more corrupt than myself,' which is hardly a denial. He even suggested he was corrupt in the right direction on the Dema Power Plant deal because his price was lower - whatever that means."
Kasukuwere questioned the legitimacy of the Dema Power Project - a failed US$250 million emergency electricity generation scheme fronted by Tagwirei in 2016 - accusing him of bypassing due process.
"He got that tender without even bidding," said Kasukuwere. "In his rambling Bulawayo address, Tagwirei proudly confirmed what Zimbabweans have been saying all along: that he is a tenderpreneur, not a businessman."
Kasukuwere, who served in cabinet under the late President Robert Mugabe, denied Tagwirei's claims that the Dema project had received cabinet approval.
"I was a member of cabinet at the time. Cabinet never approved that corrupt project. In fact, it was questioned. It was scrutinised in Parliament and opposed by some of us because it was clearly corrupt," he said.
He added that Tagwirei appeared confused about the meaning of "cabinet authority."
"Cabinet doesn't approve tenders - that's not its role. There's a public procurement system for that. He doesn't even understand that ‘cabinet authority' means permission for a minister to travel, not green-lighting dodgy deals."
Kasukuwere further mocked Tagwirei for inaccurately stating that Zimbabwe's next general elections will be in 2030, when they are in fact scheduled for 2028.
"And he wants to be a leader of the country?" he scoffed. "What he really needs to be doing is explaining his corrupt deals, the vast millions of public funds he's received through government tenders, and how he's become so filthy rich without doing anything productive."
Kasukuwere concluded by warning: "Now is the time for Tagwirei to be held accountable. His corruption is destroying the economy and impoverishing the people. Tell him I said it - his day of reckoning will come."
This comes in response to remarks made by Tagwirei during a business event in Bulawayo this week, where the Sakunda Holdings boss branded Kasukuwere "one of the most corrupt people I know."
In a sharp rebuttal, Kasukuwere dismissed the claims as "false and malicious," accusing Tagwirei of attempting to deflect attention from his own questionable dealings.
"That one, Tagwirei, is the most corrupt person that I know in Zimbabwe," Kasukuwere declared.
"He didn't even deny that he is corrupt. He merely said, ‘some people who complain about corruption are more corrupt than myself,' which is hardly a denial. He even suggested he was corrupt in the right direction on the Dema Power Plant deal because his price was lower - whatever that means."
Kasukuwere questioned the legitimacy of the Dema Power Project - a failed US$250 million emergency electricity generation scheme fronted by Tagwirei in 2016 - accusing him of bypassing due process.
"He got that tender without even bidding," said Kasukuwere. "In his rambling Bulawayo address, Tagwirei proudly confirmed what Zimbabweans have been saying all along: that he is a tenderpreneur, not a businessman."
Kasukuwere, who served in cabinet under the late President Robert Mugabe, denied Tagwirei's claims that the Dema project had received cabinet approval.
"I was a member of cabinet at the time. Cabinet never approved that corrupt project. In fact, it was questioned. It was scrutinised in Parliament and opposed by some of us because it was clearly corrupt," he said.
He added that Tagwirei appeared confused about the meaning of "cabinet authority."
"Cabinet doesn't approve tenders - that's not its role. There's a public procurement system for that. He doesn't even understand that ‘cabinet authority' means permission for a minister to travel, not green-lighting dodgy deals."
Kasukuwere further mocked Tagwirei for inaccurately stating that Zimbabwe's next general elections will be in 2030, when they are in fact scheduled for 2028.
"And he wants to be a leader of the country?" he scoffed. "What he really needs to be doing is explaining his corrupt deals, the vast millions of public funds he's received through government tenders, and how he's become so filthy rich without doing anything productive."
Kasukuwere concluded by warning: "Now is the time for Tagwirei to be held accountable. His corruption is destroying the economy and impoverishing the people. Tell him I said it - his day of reckoning will come."
Source - businessdaily.co.zw
