Tagwirei unstoppable as ED consolidates more powers
Valerio Sibanda, Tungwarara left out
By Brighton Chiseva
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has moved swiftly to implement the dictates of the Constitutional Amendment Act, appointing 10 new senators and 14 judges in a move analysts said is designed to consolidate power, reward loyalty, and further marginalise Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his allies.
The appointments, which include business mogul Kudakwashe Tagwirei, retired General Gibson Mashingaidze, Zanu PF Harare provincial chair Goodwills Masimirembwa and other loyalists, leaving out General (rtd) Phillip Valerio Sibanda and Paul Tungwarara who were both said to be in the succession matrix.
ED’s moves have sparked speculation of an impending cabinet reshuffle where the likes of Tagwirei, Mary Mliswa and Masimirembwa might be appointed into cabinet, whilst those suspected to be loyal to vice president Constentino Chiwenga will be shown the exit door.
Valerio Sibanda’s omission on the list came as a surprise as Mnangagwa at some point tried to smuggle him into the Politburo as an ex officio member while he was still serving as the Commander of the Defence Forces. Mnangagwa was forced to drop him after a constitutional outcry as the constitution did not allow a serving member of the Defence Forces to be active in politics.
Valerio was among those who orchestrated the escape of Mnangagwa out of the country and the safe return of Chiwenga from China after he was targeted with arrest at the airport. It is his men who welcomed Chiwenga and whisked him away.
This was an opportune time for Mnangagwa to appoint Valerio into government, but he left him out probably because he no longer trusts him that much.
The decision to leave Valerio out, opting to reward opposition members with senatorial positions might be a signal that ED no longer trusts anyone from the army especially those who assisted him to the position.
Tagwirei is now taunted as ED’s preferred successor and his fans are optimistic that he is already one foot in, notwithstanding that the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa is also rumoured to be eyeing the presidency.
Tagwirei played a pivotal role in pushing for the extension of the presidential term, donating cars to central committee members, party provincial chairpersons and bankrolling party programmes which allegedly swayed leadership to support the Constitutional Amendment Bill number 3 that has since been signed into law.
His appointment is seen as preparation for something bigger, with speculation mounting that he could be headed for a cabinet position, possibly as a minister or even as Vice President.
Since his admission into the Central Committee, Tagwirei has not stopped rising, and analysts believe he could only stop perhaps after getting the country’s presidency.
Political analyst, Rashweat Mukundu, said there was a clear method to the appointments, mostly centred on rewarding loyalists who pushed the CAB 3 agenda either from inside or outside the party.
“I think there is a method to the appointments, mostly centered on rewarding loyalists who pushed the CAB#3 agenda either from inside the party or from outside. There is also a possibility that the president is looking at a cabinet reshuffle in the near future to position some of the newly appointed senators in strategic cabinet positions.
The appointments also reflect the changes to the leadership structures in both the party and government,” said Mukundu.
Dr Silvester Chikerema echoed the same sentiments saying the majority of the appointments were more of rewards for supporting CAB#3 which the President confessed that he was eagerly waiting to sign.
“It is clear that the appointments are rewards for supporting CAB#3. Look at Mashingaidze, he is the one who countered Henry Muchena and other former senior civil servants who were against the constitutional amendments. It is, therefore, clear that the majority of the appointments are purely rewards for supporting the then constitutional amendment,” said Dr Chikerema.
“I think this tells you Zimbabwe has now become an elitist state ruled by a few oligarchs that are enjoying the fruits, while the majority are suffering,” added Dr Chikerema.
President Mnangagwa also appointed Retired General Gibson Mashingaidze from Masvingo. Mashingaidze is being rewarded for his role in pacifying discontented retired army generals led by retired Air Vice Marshal Muchena, who was allegedly leading retired army generals and former senior civil servants in calling for a referendum.
Muchena’s group was allegedly also fighting in Chiwenga’s corner. General Mashingaidze was instrumental in issuing a counter-statement saying the veterans of the struggle were fully behind CAB#3 and the 2030 agenda.
He took a risk by going against the military element in the party and supporting CAB#3.
For that, Mashingaidze was selected into the Central Committee, and it is not surprising that he could also be further rewarded with a ministerial post or deputy minister post, while his counterparts like General Engelbert Rugeje, who allegedly remained loyal to Chiwenga, are said to be poised for a diplomatic mission in Egypt as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the Arab nation.
Masimirembwa is likely to have been rewarded for two major roles; that is, applying for the co-option of Tagwirei into the central committee as well as supporting the then CAB#3.
After Masvingo requested to co-opt Tagwirei into the Central Committee, Harare province also requested for the same a week later.
Those planning behind the scenes realized it was more strategic for Tagwirei to be co-opted by Harare province than Masvingo province as that would dent his chances of getting bigger position in future since the incumbent President is deemed to be from Masvingo province.
As such, Masimirembwa led the process of co-option as the Harare Provincial chair. Tagwirei went on to reward most of the provincial executive with vehicles.
Masimirembwa, again, was among the first supporters who claimed that the proposed constitutional amendments did not require a referendum, against people like the then secretary for legal affairs Patrick Chinamsa who had indicated that at least two referenda were required for the proposed amendments to sail through.
He is likely to be rewarded again probably as the Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the event that ED chooses to reshuffle.
The appointment of Mary Mliswa into the Senate is another way of rewarding loyalists in the party. Mliswa remained loyal after losing favour when she lost the parliamentary election, and she went on to get into council through the quota system. She accepted a far less position despite having served as Minister of State.
Her appointment among the 10 could also mean rewarding her brother Themba, who, despite not being a member of Zanu PF, remained a staunch supporter of Mnangagwa and CAB#3.
Themba is known for publicly attacking vice president Chiwenga and supporting the then constitutional amendments. He was aggressive and allegations of him being paid to smear the vice president once emerged though he vehemently denied them.
Mary’s appointment, therefore, could be a way of rewarding Themba, notwithstanding that she also has a long-standing history of supporting ED. Her elevation to the Senate creates another vacancy since she was a councillor and council chairperson respectively.
Mnangagwa also made another key appointment of Jabulani Sibanda, the current party Chairperson for Bulawayo Province. Jabulani, being a war veteran, his appointment is set to consolidate power in the opposition stronghold.
Being a chairperson, war veteran, and senator gives him more power to influence Mnangagwa’s hold in Bulawayo. ED needs a tried and tested political veteran, and Jabulani is one of them.
Matabeleland being an opposition stronghold that was also against term extension and probably supported Chiwenga, rewarding Jabulani shows that Mnangagwa does not forget his people, which would also mean others would support him with the intention of getting similar rewards.
Other appointees include Nokuthula Matsikenyere, a Zanu PF politician who previously served as the Member of Parliament for Chimanimani West and later as Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution. Lucy Chitaga, who has been actively involved in politics.
Makhosini Hlongwane is a former journalist who served as a cabinet minister, including as Minister of Sport, before falling out of favour after the November 2017 events.
His appointment marks a return to public office.
Brilliant Dube previously served as Chief of Staff to former opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and was associated with groups that opposed Constitutional Amendment Act 3; her transition from opposition circles to a presidential Senate appointment has sparked debate.
Irene Mutumbwa is believed to have served in the party’s internal election commissionAnother person who was left out was the Investment Advisor Paul Tungwarara and this shocked many people.
Tungwarara was controversially co-opted into the Central Committee in Manicaland, and was very vocal in supporting Mnangagwa and the amendments.
However, his biggest undoing could have been the way he handled the Rutendo Matinyarare case.
Tungwarara gave Matinyarare around $200 000 and a top of the range Toyota landcruiser to Rutendo so that he stops attacking the President and CAB#3.
This did not go well with the majority of Varakashi4ED who then accused him of rewarding someone who was attacking the President.
It also seemed like fa ction loyal to Tagwirei did not like how Tungwarara handled the matter.
This probably widened the alleged rift between Tungwarara and Tagwirei.
Tagwirei might have influenced the decision to leave out Tungwarara.Dr Chikerema said Tagwirei’s ambition was evident and that his financial muscle made him unstoppable.
“Tagwirei has money and he knows how, where and when to use it. He has been strategically using his wealth to push for his interests and in the process gained trust of the President whom I think is more comfortable to let him be his successor because he probably demonstrated that he can protect the incumbent’s assets and projects,” said Dr Chikerema.
Mkundu said the recent appointments by Mnangagwa indicate a president who is comfortable with power rather than someone seeking to fend off rivals.
“My view is the president is now beyond fighting anyone but rather advancing his political and economic agenda as he sees fit. The appointments indicate someone comfortable with power rather than someone seeking to fend off rivals,” said Mukundu.
