Zimbabwe’s political stage, a constant theater of shadows and whispers, was last week illuminated by a rare burst of unfiltered truth. It came, not from the usual pulpits of policy, but from a heated exchange between former Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Kudakwashe Tagwirei, the man widely acknowledged as the grand looting architect of our time. Kasukuwere’s scathing rebuke, labeling Tagwirei a “good thief” but a dismal leader, cut through the political rhetoric, laying bare the grotesque ambition of a figure who now openly seeks to buy the very soul of the nation.
The context was a “land tenure leadership success series event”—a title that drips with irony given Tagwirei’s own history. It was here that Tagwirei, with characteristic arrogance, reportedly accused Kasukuwere of corruption. But in a swift and devastating counter, Kasukuwere turned the spotlight back on
the Zvigananda faction leader, highlighting the glaring hypocrisy. “He,” Kasukuwere thundered, referring to Tagwirei, “has been sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom specifically for corruption”. This isn’t merely political mudslinging; it is a direct indictment, rooted in international findings, of a figure who has allegedly engaged in corrupt deals that have caused widespread suffering across Zimbabwe.
Indeed, the litany of accusations against Tagwirei speaks volumes of his mastery in state capture. From murky fuel deals that have bled our treasury dry, to the alleged diversion of national resources for personal gain, Tagwirei’s financial empire is largely built on the very public funds that should have powered hospitals, schools, and essential services. The suffering of the ordinary Zimbabwean, from a child dying due to lack of cancer machines to pensioners losing their life savings, stands as a chilling testament to the impact of this grand corruption.
The audacity intensifies when one considers Tagwirei’s burgeoning political ambitions. Recently recommended by Zanu PF’s Harare province for the party’s central committee,
the Zvigananda faction leader is now reportedly campaigning for the extension of President Mnangagwa’s term, a move that echoes the dangerous “ED 2030” narrative. This isn’t a civic-minded entry into public service; it is a calculated maneuver to embed
state capture deeper into the national fabric, securing impunity and further expanding a patronage empire built on pilfered wealth.
This brazen attempt to legitimize a system of patronage through political office did not go unnoticed by principled voices. Tendai Biti, another individual singled out by Tagwirei, vehemently condemned his actions. Biti emphasized the paramount importance of upholding principles and preventing what he chillingly described as “criminals from taking over the state”. This is the heart of the matter: a fundamental battle for the integrity of our republic against those who view it merely as another tender to be acquired, another resource to be plundered.
The “good thief” may be adept at accumulating ill-gotten wealth, but that prowess does not translate into the capacity for principled leadership. True leadership demands empathy, integrity, and a genuine commitment to national welfare, not a philosophy that calls those who seek an honest living “foolish.” The spectacle of Tagwirei’s political ascent, facilitated by ill-gotten gains and seemingly endorsed by elements within the ruling party, is a grave affront to our collective memory and our yearning for a just society.
Zimbabwe stands at a precipice. The choice is stark: succumb to the brazen advance of the architects of grand corruption and solidify state capture, or rise in collective outrage to reclaim our nation from those who seek to buy its very future. The time for silent observation is over. The time for demanding decency, integrity, and a government truly beholden to its people is now.
