Prominent businessman and ZANU PF benefactor Kudakwashe Tagwirei was escorted out of a Central Committee meeting in Harare on Thursday afternoon after what insiders described as a “procedural breach,” triggering widespread speculation amid intensifying succession tensions within the ruling party.
Tagwirei, recently nominated by ZANU PF’s Harare Province for co-option into the Central Committee, had not yet been officially ratified as a member when he attended the meeting. His presence without formal approval raised protocol concerns and ultimately led to his ejection from the gathering by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, sources said.
Witnesses said Tagwirei had arrived to present on the party’s land tenure and title deeds policy a crucial agenda item and was expected to leave after delivering his contribution. However, he remained seated among full Central Committee members, an act viewed by senior officials as procedurally inappropriate.
A party insider clarified “This was not a political expulsion or a reflection of any falling out. Tagwirei’s contributions to the party are well acknowledged. His removal was purely about process he should not have participated as a full member before formal ratification.”
The dramatic moment comes just a day after the ZANU PF Politburo silently accepted a report recommending his co-option, which many had interpreted as a green light for his elevation within the party’s structures.
Tagwirei’s rising political profile and his perceived ambitions have unsettled the fragile succession dynamics in ZANU PF as internal factions position themselves for a post-Mnangagwa era. His growing influence, backed by financial muscle, places him as a key figure to watch in the battle for control of the ruling party.
