While the public face of ZANU-PF remains a facade of “liberation credentials” and “party unity,” a far more predatory war is being waged in the shadows of the State House. This is no longer a battle of ideology or succession politics in the traditional sense; it is a cut-throat, billionaire-level scramble for the very levers of the Zimbabwean economy.
Our latest investigation reveals that the presidency has become the ultimate “brokerage firm,” where rival business tycoons are using “Presidential Schemes” as a legal cloak to seize control of fuel imports, multi-million dollar infrastructure tenders, and gold-rich riverbeds.
The Architecture of the “Shadow State”
At the heart of this conflict is an unregulated ecosystem of state-linked projects. When a project is branded as a “Presidential Scheme,” it effectively operates outside the reach of the Auditor General and standard tender procedures.
Insiders say the strategy is simple:
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Label: Attach the “Presidential” tag to a commercial venture.
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Bypass: Use the tag to silence institutional scrutiny and oversight.
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Monopolize: Access foreign currency, government guarantees, and strategic infrastructure ahead of any competitors.
Muguti vs. The Titans: The Gloves Come Off
The internal rot spilled into the public arena recently when Presidential Secretary Tafadzwa Muguti issued a chilling warning, claiming coordinated attacks and death threats against his life. Muguti’s outburst is seen by many as a desperate pushback against a network of “businessmen-turned-politicians” who have grown too powerful to control.
Named in the crossfire are figures like Paul Tungwarara, who is increasingly seen as a direct rival to the long-standing kingpin of state procurement, Kudakwashe Tagwirei. Tagwirei, often dubbed the “President’s business ally,” has built a multi-billion dollar empire spanning fuel, mining, and finance. While supporters view him as a strategic stabilizer, critics argue his proximity to power has effectively “crowded out” the national economy.
Gold, Fuel, and Riverbeds: The Looting Map
The battlegrounds for these rival networks are clearly defined, with each camp seeking exclusive endorsement for “national priorities”:
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The Fuel Monopoly: Control over fuel import licenses remains the crown jewel. With government guarantees and access to offshore credit lines, this sector has minted billionaires while the rest of the country grapples with price hikes.
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The Gold “Rehabilitation” Ruse: Former legislator Temba Mliswa has raised alarms over “riverbed rehabilitation” schemes. These projects, often launched under the banner of environmental development, are allegedly sophisticated mining operations disguised to bypass the Mines and Minerals Act.
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Infrastructure Tenders: Massive road and dam projects are being divvied up between politically connected firms, with transparency falling by the wayside.
The Succession Factor
Political analysts tell ZiMetro News that the fighting has become “vicious” because the President’s remaining time in office is narrowing. Business factions are no longer just fighting for today’s contracts; they are positioning themselves to control the economic state in the post-Mnangagwa era.
“Scrutiny drops, institutions step aside, and the money flows,” said one senior ZANU-PF official. “The presidency has become a battleground because an endorsement there is a license to print money.”
Conclusion: A Presidency Under Siege?
The public nature of these death threats and tender wars suggests that ZANU-PF’s historical ability to contain its “dirty laundry” is failing. As these business-linked factions escalate their war, they risk not just the party’s cohesion, but the very authority of the presidency they claim to serve.
Pressure is now mounting for a full audit of all “Presidential Initiatives” and mining concessions. But in an environment where the referees are also the players, the question remains: who will police the billionaires?
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