It’s a generational consensus – says Mliswa, as he likens Tagwirei to Chamisa

….claims Zanu PF has decided on Tagwirei as next President ahead of Chiwenga

ZANU PF is now behind the future candidature of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, outspoken former legislator Temba Mliswa has sensationally claimed.

Speaking to journalist Violet Gonda, Mliswa likened Tagwirei’s fast-track promotion to opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, describing it in similar terms that were used when the latter took over after the passing of pro-democracy icon Morgan Tsvangirai– a generational consensus.

An ongoing factional fight within Zanu PF has pitted President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga with Tagwirei.

The two are in a race to succeed Mnangagwa, either in 2028 or beyond, if his term is illegally extended as is being rallied for by sections in the party.

That Tagwirei has become a strong contender is no longer secret, even hardline critics of the businessman such as Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, have changed their stance.

Mliswa said it was time senior party members allowed younger members to take over.

“It is a generational consensus just like when we had national consensus in making sure that people marched (in 2017). It is the generational consensus that Tagwirei must make it because he is young,” said Mliswa.

“We have given our liberators time to liberate us from an economic point of view but they have not done what we expected them to do, they have done their best but it is about time that we took over.

“We do not have liberation history but we have economic ability to be able to transform the country and equally transform its fortunes.”

Mliswa, who was fired from Zanu PF in 2015, has emerged as one of Tagwirei’s fervent supporters, frequently laying into Chiwenga.

Chiwenga is pushing for Tagwirei’s arrest on a string of corruption allegations. His attempts to get the party’s stamp, however, fell by the wayside as he was advised to report all of the alleged graft to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) or the police.

Tagwirei’s meteoric rise is being supported by claims that he financed the 2017 coup that toppled late leader Robert Mugabe and government’s agriculture programme, Command Agriculture.

Added Mliswa: “It is a generational consensus which you cannot stop.

“That is the reason why the opposition moved from the late Morgan Tsvangirai to Nelson Chamisa. Now Zanu PF has moved to Tagwirei.” _*NewZimbabwe*_