Tagwirei’s entry into ZANU PF Central Committee stalls over procedural delays

By Anesu Masamvu

HARARE, July 3, 2025 — The anticipated full induction of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei into ZANU PF’s Central Committee was delayed on Wednesday after the party failed to complete the ratification process required for new members.

Tagwirei, head of Sakunda Holdings and a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, had been nominated to join the ruling party’s most powerful decision-making body outside of Congress.

However, his participation — along with that of several other nominees — was suspended after the party shifted the ratification agenda to a later date.

ZANU PF Director for Information and Publicity, Farai Marapira, confirmed the development in an interview with ZiFM Stereo News and dismissed reports that Tagwirei was removed from the meeting under pressure.

He described the matter as strictly procedural.

“When people are nominated to the Central Committee, the Central Committee must ratify these nominations from the provinces,” said Marapira.

“What happened in this case is that the Central Committee was not able to ratify nominations today because there were other issues it had to deal with.

So in the absence of that ability, ratification has been postponed to a later date.”

Marapira explained that without formal ratification, the nominees could not participate in the meeting and were therefore excused.

“In the absence of the ratification process taking place, there was no point in Elder Tagwirei and other nominees staying, because they need to be ratified so that they can be welcomed properly into the Central Committee,” he said.

“They were excused for the day and they’ll await ratification and then eventually become members.”

The delay has triggered widespread interest due to Tagwirei’s political prominence and economic influence.

His nomination to the Central Committee was seen by many as a formal step in solidifying his place in ZANU PF’s top leadership circles.

Earlier in the day, online publication ZimLive reported that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga challenged Tagwirei’s nomination, arguing that it had not followed procedure, and that President Mnangagwa supported this position.

The report claimed this resulted in Tagwirei being asked to leave the meeting.

While not directly addressing the claims, Marapira rejected any suggestion of internal drama.

“This is a technical and administrative issue, which does not have anything to do with all the noise that has been claimed by so many media outlets,” he said.

“There was no storm — not even a storm in a teacup.

Everything was well.

Everything was candid.

There was so much happiness. And there was so much camaraderie between our senior leadership.

”He stressed that Tagwirei’s induction is still expected to happen in due course, once the ratification session is held.

“Dr. Tagwirei and several other members who have been nominated for the Central Committee were not able to be ratified today,” Marapira said.

“But they will be eventually.”

ZANU PF has yet to announce when the ratification will take place.

Source: ZiFM Stereo