ZANU PF FIGHTS OVER SECRET WAY TO BRING IN TAGWIREI

ZANU PF is now fighting itself again. This time, the fight is about how to add new people into its top structures. The problem started because some leaders tried to bring businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the Central Committee, but they used a secret way called “co-option.” Now the whole party is in chaos.

Co-option means when the leaders choose someone to join a group or committee without a public election. It is like being invited into a group by those who are already inside. ZANU PF is now writing a new circular to explain how this co-option should work, because the way it is done is not clear anymore. This comes after many party members started fighting about how Tagwirei was almost added to the Central Committee.

The new circular is being written by political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha and secretary-general Obert Mpofu. They are trying to explain how this process should be done properly, so that the party stops fighting itself.

Tagwirei’s name has caused a lot of problems in the party. Some leaders want him in because he has a lot of money. Others are saying no because they think he is using his money to buy power and skip the proper steps. The fight has split the party into two groups. Some are with Tagwirei, and some are against him.

Last week, the politburo – the highest decision-making group in the party – seemed to accept Tagwirei without any objection. Machacha gave a report, and nobody said anything. So Tagwirei came to the Central Committee meeting the next day, thinking he was now part of it. But Vice President Constantino Chiwenga stopped him and sent him out of the meeting. That moment showed how deep the fight really is.

Chiwenga and President Mnangagwa are already in a bitter power fight over who will take over next. Tagwirei is seen by some as trying to sneak in and become powerful too. Even though Tagwirei denies this, many believe he wants to be more than just a businessman.

The issue got worse when two provinces – Harare and Masvingo – both asked for Tagwirei to be co-opted into the Central Committee. They didn’t ask because he is a strong politician, but because he has money and they think he can help the party with funding. In the end, Harare Province won and tried to push him in. But Chiwenga blocked it. Now the whole co-option process looks corrupt, confused, and full of fights.

Because of this, ZANU PF has now gone back to look at its rules. The old constitution said that any empty position, except in the Central Committee, could be filled through co-option until the next election. But if one third of the seats were empty, new elections had to be held.

After changing the constitution in 2022, the rule now says any empty position can be filled through co-option within three months by agreement. If two people want the same position, the group must vote. If one third of the positions are empty, the group is dissolved and a new election must happen. Also, anyone replacing a member must come from the same area.

ZANU PF is now lost in its own confusion. The rules are not clear. The leaders are not agreeing. Tagwirei has brought money, but also problems. And the party is now fighting over secret ways of bringing people into power.

This is another sign that ZANU PF is no longer a strong party. It is full of selfish leaders who fight for power and money, not for the people. The people of Zimbabwe are watching. The time to stand up is coming. We must not allow this broken system to control us anymore.