By A Correspondent-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close ally and controversial businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei has won a fierce internal ZANU PF battle to be co-opted into the party’s Central Committee, despite vocal opposition from senior party figures including spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga ZANU PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa, on Sunday confirmed that Tagwirei’s inclusion had been endorsed by the Politburo and was now “irreversibly settled,” bringing to an end weeks of speculation and infighting The development comes after Mutsvangwa launched an uncharacteristically sharp attack on Tagwirei, accusing him of manipulating state institutions and using his vast wealth to influence political decisions within the party Mutsvangwa’s criticism, which some interpreted as a veiled challenge to Mnangagwa’s patronage networks, was viewed as an attempt to block Tagwirei from ascending within ZANU PF’s ranks
Chiwenga, who chaired the Politburo session that adopted the minutes confirming Tagwirei’s elevation, had also previously expressed discomfort with what he reportedly described as the “corporatisation of the party,” in reference to businessmen like Tagwirei being parachuted into influential positions Despite this opposition, Chinamasa stated that the co-option process was above board and procedurally sound “The controversy surrounding Cde Tagwirei’s co-option into the Central Committee surprises me and took me completely off guard,” said Chinamasa “Given Cde Tagwirei’s commitment to ZANU PF and his track record in the service of the party, the negative publicity and narrative is undeserved.”
According to Chinamasa, the ZANU PF Harare Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) met on 31 March 2025 and unanimously recommended Tagwirei’s inclusion
The recommendation was forwarded to Secretary-General Obert Mpofu and shared with both the Commissariat and Legal Affairs departments The matter was then tabled by National Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha at the Politburo’s 384th Ordinary Session on 2 July, where the co-option was approved The decision was confirmed at the 385th Ordinary Session on 30 July, chaired by Chiwenga, where minutes reflecting Tagwirei’s elevation were adopted without objection Chinamasa added that this process was guided by a revised internal circular issued on 30 June by the Legal Affairs Department, which clarified procedures for co-option into the Central Committee
“In my nearly 38 years as a Central Committee or Politburo member, we have never had to debate PCC recommendations of co-options We always treated such recommendations as fait accompli,” Chinamasa said, underlining that Tagwirei’s nomination should not have sparked internal resistance Source: Zimeye
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Source: Zimeye
