Harare, Zimbabwe |A dramatic power struggle has exploded inside Zanu PF after the sudden nullification of Paul “Temptor” Tungwarara’s short-lived elevation to the party’s Central Committee — a move insiders insist was not an administrative correction, but a precision-engineered political takedown.
Multiple senior party officials who spoke to ZiMetro News describe the episode as a calculated strike orchestrated by a faction allegedly aligned to fuel magnate and political financier Kudakwashe Tagwirei, whose influence in the ruling party remains a highly contested subject.
What appeared to be a routine procedural intervention has now ripped open a full-blown factional war, amplified by accusations of hypocrisy, elite capture, vote-buying and a desperate bid to stop the rise of a rival power centre.
A Co-Option Blocked — and a Political Plot Exposed
The flashpoint was a December 11 letter from national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha, who abruptly annulled Tungwarara’s co-option by the Manicaland PCC.
Machacha cited a rule requiring replacements for Central Committee members to come from the same administrative district as the outgoing member, Dorothy Mabika of Chipinge.
But it was his added warning — that any distribution of money or goods by aspiring candidates would be treated as vote buying — that sent shockwaves through the party.
Several insiders accuse Machacha himself of benefiting from similar practices, insisting he was “not enforcing procedure but executing an order.”
One senior provincial member told ZiMetro News:
“Machacha cannot sermonise about vote buying when the same allegations were raised around his own rise. This was never about rules — it was about eliminating Tungwarara on behalf of powerful interests.”
Tagwirei’s Shock Defeat — and the Fallout
Sources say the heart of the conflict lies in the defeat of Tagwirei’s preferred candidate Justin Matsatsira, who reportedly mounted a well-resourced campaign that insiders claim involved substantial financial mobilisation.
According to multiple party figures:
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Tagwirei allegedly backed Matsatsira heavily,
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teams were dispatched from Harare,
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resources were poured into late-night lobbying,
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and victory was treated as guaranteed.
Instead, Tungwarara won convincingly, leaving the group stunned.
A senior official described the moment as a humiliation inside the faction:
“They believed Matsatsira was untouchable. The result rattled them. Overnight, Tungwarara became an unexpected threat.”
Adding to the fury, insiders claim Tagwirei privately complained that some of the funds meant for campaigning were never delivered to the ground, fueling internal distrust and finger-pointing.
Treasurer-general Patrick Chinamasa, publicly endorsing Machacha’s nullification, intensified speculation about coordinated action.
His cryptic statement — “Those who have eyes, let them eye… those who have ears, let them ear” — was interpreted by insiders as a thinly veiled message that the operation was deliberate.
One Politburo source was blunt:
“Chinamasa’s stance mirrors the interests of the faction backing him. This was a strategic strike, not a procedural clean-up.”
Three Factions, One Battle — and a Temporary Alliance That Collapsed
Manicaland has now been exposed as a battlefield for three rival blocs:
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The Tagwirei-aligned group, backing Matsatsira
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The John Paradza camp, supporting Evelyn Gata
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The Tungwarara camp, which few expected to outmaneuver the others
Initially united by a shared goal — to block the rise of figures aligned to General Anselem Sanyatwe (and, by extension, VP Chiwenga) — the alliance imploded the moment Tungwarara emerged victorious.
The nullification is therefore widely seen not as enforcement of rules, but as a revenge strike.
Why Tungwarara Suddenly Became a Threat
Tungwarara’s rise has unsettled rivals for reasons that go beyond provincial politics.
He currently oversees several high-impact national initiatives:
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Presidential Borehole Scheme
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Veterans Housing Programme
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War Veterans Fund
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Presidential Solar Programme
These positions have expanded his influence, giving him direct access to communities, structures and resources — the foundations of political capital in Zanu PF.
One Politburo official told ZiMetro News:
“For some, Tungwarara is no longer just a businessman — he’s becoming a political force. That scares people who thought they controlled the field.”
Some insiders even claim he is being quietly whispered about as a future presidential contender, a prospect that would set him on a collision course with other ambitious players.
Accusations of Hypocrisy and Elite Capture
Machacha’s warning on vote buying sparked open derision from youth structures.
One youth league member said:
“How do you lecture anyone about vote buying when half the party structures are said to have been captured through money from powerful benefactors? Tungwarara simply played using the same template.”
The episode has intensified long-standing concerns about the influence of wealthy elites over Zanu PF structures, especially in Harare.
Provincial leaders who feel sidelined by external interference now describe the decision as “a dangerous precedent” that confirms their worst fears.
A Glimpse of Zanu PF’s Coming Succession War
Far from being a provincial dispute, this battle is now widely seen as an early signal of the inevitable succession storm brewing inside the party.
The Tagwirei–Tungwarara confrontation is viewed by insiders as a proxy war over future power, access to state programmes, loyalty networks and influence over the post-Mnangagwa era.
And with the Manicaland process being restarted, the fight is entering a new phase.
A senior insider summarised the mood:
“Tagwirei’s faction wants Tungwarara stopped at all costs. Tungwarara’s camp is preparing to fight back. This is no longer about a seat — it’s about who controls the future.”
What began as a co-option has become a full-scale factional collision, and every sign suggests the battle is far from over.