Biti, Kasukuwere gang up against Tagwirei

Former cabinet ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Tendai Biti have publicly condemned controversial businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, branding him as the "face of corruption" whose growing influence within Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU-PF, poses a grave threat to the country's future.

The backlash follows recent attacks by Tagwirei against Kasukuwere and Biti, accusing both of corruption. Biti had previously challenged Tagwirei's involvement in the Command Agriculture program during his tenure as a legislator.

Tagwirei, whose company Sakunda Holdings was sanctioned by the United States in 2020 over allegations of facilitating government corruption through lucrative state contracts, has been steadily consolidating power within ZANU-PF. Political analysts view his increasing presence at party events across the country as a calculated move to position himself for future leadership.

On the social media platform X, Kasukuwere lambasted Tagwirei's ambitions, warning that elevating such a figure betrays the revolutionary ideals upon which ZANU-PF was founded.

 "A good fraudster is not necessarily a good politician. Trying to turn a thief into a leader is the ultimate betrayal of the revolutionary party by a reactionary leader. The game has begun, and that rimming mouth will not be opened again," Kasukuwere wrote.

He further criticised the party's current state:

 "A historic party has been reduced to a rent-seeking, positions-for-sale party. How does a whole NPC [National Political Commissar] Machacha subordinate himself to a crook? Hurombo Huroyi."

Tagwirei, a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is reportedly eyeing the top ZANU-PF leadership spot when Mnangagwa's constitutional term ends in 2028. However, the businessman has publicly denied any succession ambitions, instead advocating for the extension of Mnangagwa's term beyond the current constitutional limit.

Tendai Biti, a longtime critic of Tagwirei, urged for an immediate audit of government Treasury Bills issued over the last two decades, accusing Tagwirei of illicitly acquiring billions through non-transparent contracts.

 "We stand firm on principle & on deep-rooted values that have defined us for decades. We will never allow charlatans & crooks to take over the State, to emasculate the Constitution, or to buy their way into office. Criminals must know that one day soon, Zimbabwe will rise, and crooks will fall," Biti said.

He added:

 "A New Zimbabwe must audit all Treasury Bills issued by the Government in the last 20 years. Billions have been illicitly siphoned off in opaque transactions done outside parliamentary scrutiny. One crook has been awarded more TBs than any other entity in Zimbabwe. It's time for this audit!"

As Tagwirei's influence grows within the ruling party, the public and political figures alike remain divided, raising questions about the future direction of ZANU-PF and Zimbabwe's political landscape ahead of the next elections.