Tagwirei rekindles 2030 agenda

The entry of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei into full-time Zanu PF politics has re-ignited the ruling party’s controversial 2030 agenda where a faction aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to have his term extended by two years.

 

Mnangagwa’s term of office ends in 2028, according to the constitution and he has previously indicated that he wants to retire when the time comes.

 

Tagwirei was formally co-opted into the central committee last week and at a function to donate a fleet of vehicles to Zanu PF’s Harare provincial leadership, he chanted the 2030 slogan.

 

The 2030 campaign had taken a back seat after war veteran Blessed Geza launched a spirited campaign against its proponents.

 

Zanu PF insiders say Tagwirei is being positioned as an alternative to Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga in the race to succeed Mnangagwa.

 

Sources say he already enjoys the support of the first lady Auxillia and her children who allegedly fear that he might be vindictive if he takes over.

 

Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the 2020 agenda was double-faced.

 

“I think the ED2030 slogan has two dimensions — one a desire to extend Mnangagwa’s term to 2030 by changing the constitution, but also a broad movement of Mnangagwa’s supporters who want him to anoint a successor,” Mukundu said.

 

“So Mnangagwa has room for deniability that these are his supporters’ wishes while tacitly supporting his supporters’ sloganeering.

 

“Either way the ED2030 campaign wants to win by pushing Mnangagwa to either continue or to anoint a successor.

 

“If Mnangagwa is truly against the slogan then he would have stopped it.”

 

Jealousy Mawarire, a political commentator, said Tagwirei faced an uphill task in dislodging in the succession race because of the military factor.

 

“If Tagwirei succeeds in outwitting the military, he will become the only presidential aspirant in Zanu PF to do so since 1977,” Mawarire said.

 

“In fact, it’s easier for the army to remove ED and replace him with VP Chiwenga, than for Tagwirei to rise through Zanu PF ranks to become the party’s first secretary.”

 

Chiwenga has publicly spoken out against corruption.

 

Addressing mourners at the burial of Justin Mupamhanga at the Heroes Acre in January this year, Chiwenga described corrupt individuals as “Zviganandas”, declaring time to deal with them was fast approaching.

 

“Our Vision 2030 is for all of us, not those that you call mbinga (corrupt). During the war we referred to them as zvigananda (leeches): those who grow big tummies through ill-gotten wealth and questionable morals,” he said. The Standard