Tagwirei Steals the Spotlight from Mutsvangwa in Power Showdown

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s golf outing on Friday with his long-time ally and embattled businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei has sent shockwaves through ZANU PF, laying bare the bitter factional warfare roiling the ruling party. While Zimbabwe’s political elite gathered at State House for the ED-UNZA fundraising dinner and golf tournament, it was the president’s choice of company—not the event itself—that drew the most attention.

In full view of state media cameras, Mnangagwa was pictured laughing and joking with Tagwirei during the tournament, a striking image of solidarity that appeared calculated in its symbolism. The optics could not have been clearer: despite the ongoing and highly publicised feud between Tagwirei and ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, Mnangagwa is standing firmly by his controversial ally.

State broadcaster The Herald noted the moment in its coverage: “President Mnangagwa is joined in the putting challenge by Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei… Dr Tagwirei starts with a flawless shot for Team ED.”
But behind the light-hearted headline lies a deeper political drama that is rapidly becoming a crisis for the ruling party.

The simmering conflict between Tagwirei and Mutsvangwa has been years in the making, rooted in allegations of cronyism and state capture. Mutsvangwa has long accused Tagwirei—via his company Sakunda Holdings—of benefiting from preferential treatment in public tenders, foreign currency allocations, and the much-criticised Command Agriculture scheme, which many believe siphoned off billions of dollars in state funds with little accountability.

What makes the feud particularly toxic is the overlapping fault lines it reveals within ZANU PF. Although both Tagwirei and Mutsvangwa are reportedly united in their disdain for Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, their rivalry has less to do with ideological differences and more to do with access to the levers of power. As President Mnangagwa’s final term edges closer to its conclusion, internal jockeying for influence—and ultimately succession—is intensifying.

“This is not just about development policy or economic reform,” said a senior ZANU PF insider. “It’s about who controls the president’s ear. And right now, Tagwirei seems to be winning that battle.”

Mnangagwa’s Golf Game With Tagwirei Deepens ZANU PF Rift
Indeed, Mnangagwa’s public display of warmth toward Tagwirei appears to confirm what many in ZANU PF already suspect: that the president is not only aware of the feud but is quietly encouraging it as part of a long-standing strategy to divide and rule. By refusing to rebuke either man and allowing them to battle it out in public, Mnangagwa may be hoping to maintain control while avoiding the risk of picking a definitive successor too soon.

However, critics warn that this approach is beginning to backfire. Rather than acting as a stabilising force, the president is increasingly seen as a source of division.

“Each day he refuses to intervene, he reveals himself not as a unifier, but as a leader who thrives on controlled chaos,” one analyst said. “But now the chaos is starting to spiral out of his control. The centre is no longer holding.”

Nowhere is this more evident than in the fight over Tagwirei’s reported ambitions to secure a seat on the influential ZANU PF Central Committee. Mutsvangwa and his allies have launched a quiet campaign to block the businessman’s entry, accusing him of attempting to “buy influence” through lavish donations and financial inducements.

Last week, Mutsvangwa publicly escalated the conflict, delivering a blistering press statement in which he accused Tagwirei of undermining the party’s legacy and attempting to replace revolutionary principles with what he termed “corporate corruption.”

“Leadership is not for sale,” Mutsvangwa declared, invoking his war credentials and decades of party service. “The revolution is not a business franchise.”

Tagwirei, known for his considerable financial muscle and philanthropic gestures, quickly responded via a post on X (formerly Twitter), dismissing Mutsvangwa’s remarks as character assassination and defending his contributions to national development. He accused Mutsvangwa of seeking to tarnish his name for political gain.

While both men continue to trade blows, the silence from the top has only grown louder. By embracing Tagwirei on a golf course rather than addressing the political implosion unfolding beneath him, Mnangagwa is sending a clear message about where his loyalties lie—and what kind of leadership he intends to offer in the final stretch of his presidency.

With internal factionalism escalating and succession debates heating up, the consequences of Mnangagwa’s “hands-off” approach could be long-lasting. As one party elder put it: “He may think he’s above the fray. But the party may not survive the fire he’s letting burn.”

Source- ZimEye