Mnangagwa Golfs with Tagwirei Amidst ZANU PF Feud

President’s public show of solidarity with embattled businessman highlights party divisions

President **Emmerson Mnangagwa** publicly appeared in support of ally **Kudakwashe Tagwirei**, playing golf with the businessman on Friday. This display of camaraderie with an individual facing corruption allegations and internal party opposition starkly illustrates growing rifts within ZANU PF.

Factional Battle Erupts Over Committee Seat

The president’s casual engagement with **Tagwirei** comes as **ZANU PF** spokesperson **Christopher Mutsvangwa** leads resistance against the businessman’s potential elevation to the powerful Central Committee. This clash exposes **Mnangagwa**’s leadership style, perceived as fostering division through silence and preferential treatment rather than unifying the party.

State media outlet *The Herald* noted **Mnangagwa**’s participation in the golf challenge, reporting: President Mnangagwa is joined in the putting challenge by Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei… Dr Tagwirei starts with a flawless shot for Team ED.

Internal Strife Intensifies

A political analyst commented on the situation, stating: This is classic Mnangagwa. He lets his lieutenants destroy each other while he pretends to stay above the fray. But the cost is growing disunity and instability.

Last week saw **Mutsvangwa** publicly criticize **Tagwirei**, accusing him of attempting to buy political influence through lavish donations and clandestine deals. Leadership isn’t for sale, **Mutsvangwa** declared at a press conference, emphasizing his long service and liberation war credentials.

**Tagwirei**, frequently described as **Mnangagwa**’s financial backer, responded on his X account, alleging **Mutsvangwa** was damaging his reputation and his contributions to the party and nation.

Decade-Old Rivalry Fuels Current Conflict

The rivalry between **Mutsvangwa** and **Tagwirei** spans over a decade. **Mutsvangwa** has long alleged that **Tagwirei**, through his company Sakunda Holdings, received preferential access to public tenders and foreign currency, allegedly profiting excessively at the expense of transparency. **Tagwirei**’s controversial involvement in the Command Agriculture program, which is widely reported to have resulted in billions of dollars in public funds being siphoned, remains a significant point of contention.

Both figures reportedly share a mutual opponent in Vice President **Constantino Chiwenga**. While **Tagwirei** and **Mutsvangwa** are united in their opposition to **Chiwenga**, their current conflict is seen as a fierce competition for **Mnangagwa**’s favour amidst quiet succession maneuvering within **ZANU PF**.

A senior **ZANU PF** official observed, This is not just about policy or legacy. It’s about who controls Mnangagwa’s ear. He has allowed this infighting to fester, and that’s dangerous.

Mnangagwa’s Leadership Style Under Scrutiny

**Mnangagwa**’s deliberate silence and clear favouritism towards **Tagwirei** have further fractured party unity. Insiders warn that his approach, characterized by patronage, inaction during internal disputes, and strategic detachment, could prove detrimental as discussions about the post-**Mnangagwa** era gain momentum.

The analyst added, Each day he refuses to intervene, he reveals himself not as a unifier, but as a divisive figure thriving on the chaos. The party’s centre is no longer holding.

In Zimbabwe, political patronage often plays a significant role in power dynamics, as evidenced by reports of preferential treatment in state contracts. For instance, the allocation of mining concessions has frequently been linked to political connections, creating a landscape where personal loyalty can influence economic opportunities.