In a move believed by some political observers to be aimed at preventing the contentious co-option of prominent businessman and ZANU PF financier Kudakwashe Tagwirei, the party’s Secretary-General, Obert Mpofu, has issued a circular detailing the constitutional requirements for Central Committee membership.
The internal memo, officially titled “Qualifications for Appointment to the Central Committee” and dated July 5, 2025, is Circular 0635. It has been distributed to all ZANU PF provinces, outlining the necessary criteria and procedures for filling vacancies within the powerful 342-member Central Committee, which serves as the party’s highest decision-making body between congresses.
The circular specifies that only fully subscribed ZANU PF members in good standing are eligible for Central Committee membership. Crucially, these individuals must have held office at a provincial level or higher for a continuous period of at least five years immediately prior to their nomination. The directive explicitly states that any individual who does not meet these prerequisites will not be considered for nomination or appointment.
Regarding the process for filling Central Committee vacancies, the circular refers to Sections 554 and 555 of the ZANU PF Constitution. It mandates that when a seat becomes vacant, the relevant District Coordinating Committee (DCC) from which the outgoing member originated must convene. This DCC is then responsible for recommending a single, qualified candidate.
This recommendation is subsequently submitted to the Politburo, which acts as the Central Committee’s administrative body, for its consideration. Should the Politburo endorse the nomination, it then proceeds to the full Central Committee for final approval. The party’s constitutional requirements stipulate that the entire process, from the emergence of a vacancy to the formal seating of a new member, must be concluded within three months.
The circular further clarifies that representatives from other party organs may attend the DCC’s co-option meeting strictly as observers. They are expressly prohibited from participating in deliberations or voting. Co-option, in this context, refers to an internal appointment mechanism where existing members of a body bring in a new member, rather than through an electoral process.
Last week, reports indicated that the Politburo had reportedly adopted Tagwirei’s co-option by consensus, following a report presented by National Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha. With no initial objections, Tagwirei proceeded to attend the subsequent Central Committee meeting. However, he was later asked to leave after it became apparent that the formal process for his co-option had not been fully completed.
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Sources suggest that both Harare and Masvingo provinces had advocated for Tagwirei’s inclusion, primarily motivated by his significant business standing and financial influence rather than his political experience.
While Harare Province ultimately succeeded in its push, the process reportedly stalled due to alleged resistance from the faction associated with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Adding to the complications, it has emerged that the attempt to initiate Tagwirei’s co-option was made through the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC), rather than the constitutionally mandated District Coordinating Committee (DCC). This procedural deviation renders the entire attempt flawed from its inception.
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