By Beverly Bizeki
Zanu PF Masvingo Province has lost its bid to co-opt business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the Provincial Central Committee to Harare despite the province being the first to recommend his cooption.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News, on how they felt as a province, Masvingo Provincial Chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa said he could not comment on the matter at the moment and referred questions to Zanu PF Spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa.
However, Masvingo Provincial Spokesperson Pepukai Chiwewe said they were happy with the decision and by what Tagwirei was doing.
He said Tagwirei had been in party structures in Harare so his co-option there was not a big issue but as a province they also wanted him if Harare had not coopted him.
When he announced Tagwirei’s co-option, Zanu PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa said Harare would never be the same with Tagwirei in the Central Committee.
“From being, for a long time, a dormant but committed Zanu PF party cadre loyally working quietly and outside the public limelight or glare, holding some low-ranking position in some Zanu PF Party District under Harare Province, your recent co-option into the Zanu PF Central Committee is a breath of fresh air and will certainly be impactful to Zanu PF’s political fortunes in Harare City and perhaps in other urban settings as well,” said Chinamasa.
Chinamasa promised party members that Tagwirei’s coming on board was going to bring value to the party.
“I am of course referring to Cde Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who has recently been co-opted into the Zanu PF Central Committee by the Zanu PF Harare Provincial Council. I have no hesitation in assuring those of us who are skeptics that Harare Province will never be the same again. Cde Tagwirei, who has erupted from his dormant state like a volcano is destined to add value to our deliberations as a Zanu PF Central Committee.
“Welcome aboard, Cde Tagwirei and brace yourself to the fact that there will be malcontents out there who will bay for your blood and try to throw mud at you with a view to seeking to tarnish your reputation,. I know you are made of sterner stuff and that you can take any brickbats and insults in your stride,’ said Chinamasa. The move has widely been received as a strategic move by the ruling party amidst ongoing succession developments by the Mnangagwa faction.
Masvingo recommended for Tagwirei’s cooption in March and Harare went on to do the same in March before the party leadership considered Masvingo’s bid.
Tagwirei, originally from Gutu gained prominence not only for his business acumen but also for his philanthropic endeavours across Zimbabwe. He has made substantial contributions to uplift vulnerable communities in Masvingo and beyond, funding various initiatives aimed at fostering social development. Notably, he has supported numerous projects within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, including significant donations for church construction and development initiatives at Solusi University.
In recognition of his philanthropic work, Tagwirei made history in March 2025 by becoming the first Black individual to receive the Global Award of Excellence from the General Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. This accolade highlights his commitment to advancing education and support for underserved communities through his Bridging Gaps Foundation.
