ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa has publicly criticized businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei following his unsuccessful attempt to secure a seat in the party’s Central Committee.
In May, Harare Provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa recommended Tagwirei for a position in the Central Committee — the party’s highest decision-making body between congresses. However, the endorsement was not formally ratified, leading to Tagwirei’s removal from a Central Committee meeting he had attended in July.
Reports have since emerged that Tagwirei, who is believed to harbor presidential ambitions, offered luxury vehicles to senior members of the Politburo and Central Committee in an apparent effort to sway their support. This move was widely viewed as an attempt to buy influence within the party ranks.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Mutsvangwa condemned the businessman’s approach, asserting that ZANU PF would not allow its internal processes to be manipulated by financial incentives.
“There were suggestions of bribery — cars, money, and influence-peddling — but that kind of strategy doesn’t work in ZANU PF,” said Mutsvangwa. “We’re a party with deep institutional memory and a strong foundation built on experience and sacrifice.”
He emphasized that Tagwirei’s co-option did not meet the constitutional requirements for Central Committee membership, despite support from Harare Province.
“While the provincial leadership may have proposed his inclusion, the central leadership assessed the recommendation and found it did not meet the eligibility criteria,” Mutsvangwa explained. “ZANU PF is open to everyone, including businesspeople, but entry into leadership must follow established procedures.”
Mutsvangwa also warned against the misuse of wealth to gain political power, suggesting that Tagwirei’s financial resources should not be used to distort democratic processes within the party.
“You cannot buy your way into national leadership. Elections in ZANU PF are driven by the will of the people, not by wealth,” he added. “The money being used now stems from a history built by the party itself. Attempting to use that wealth to subvert the party’s values or manipulate outcomes is unacceptable.”
He concluded by reaffirming the party’s commitment to fair internal elections and warned that any attempts to undermine democratic processes would be firmly resisted.
“ZANU PF will always stand by the integrity of the vote and the sacrifices made to protect it. Any effort to influence leadership through material inducements is fundamentally at odds with what our party stands for.”
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