KEY POINTS
- Tagwirei stake in Mnangagwa politics estimated at $2m.
- Catering costs for the birthday topped $240,000.
- U.S.-sanctioned tycoon remains central to ZANU-PF power.
Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a Zimbabwean businessman with close ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU-PF, bankrolled the president’s 83rd birthday celebrations and Munhumutapa Day commemorations this week, according to party officials and people familiar with the matter.
Party insiders said Tagwirei contributed at least $2 million to the event, held Monday in Zvishavane, a mining town in the Midlands Province. The celebrations drew thousands of ZANU-PF youths, with social media posts from youth leader Taurai Kandishaya describing him as the “major sponsor and partner.”
Tagwirei stake in Mnangagwa politics grows
Much of the funding went toward catering and logistics. Catering alone cost more than $240,000, split between Chicken Slice and Chicken Inn outlets, according to officials. Tendai Chirau, deputy security secretary for the ruling party, publicly credited Tagwirei’s backing for the success of the festivities.
Mnangagwa’s birthday now doubles as Munhumutapa Day, a national holiday introduced to celebrate Zimbabwe’s pre-colonial heritage.
Businessman long tied to state programs
Tagwirei, who built his wealth through Sakunda Holdings and fuel ventures, has long played the role of financier for Zimbabwe’s political establishment. He funded the government’s Command Agriculture program after the 2017 ouster of Robert Mugabe, a scheme lawmakers later said drained more than $3 billion.
Despite the controversies, Tagwirei remains a critical ally in sustaining Mnangagwa’s political machine, funding campaigns, vehicles, and staff salaries.
U.S. sanctions highlight international scrutiny
The tycoon’s influence has attracted global attention. In 2020, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Tagwirei for allegedly enriching himself through state patronage and supporting senior Zimbabwean officials accused of corruption. Washington accused him of using his proximity to power to secure state contracts and access scarce foreign currency.
While sanctions limited his reach abroad, they have done little to blunt his influence inside Zimbabwe, where his wealth and networks continue to underpin Mnangagwa’s rule.
