Political commentator Charlin P. Chikomo has weighed in on recent remarks by businessman and presidential ally Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who publicly referred to his protégé, Obey Chimuka, as a “Chigananda.”
The term, popularised by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, is commonly used as a slur to describe people who amass wealth through questionable means.
Chikomo described Tagwirei’s use of the word as a “calculated display of power,” arguing that in the coded language of Zimbabwean politics, such gestures are rarely accidental. He wrote on X:
By parading his associates under a term allegedly coined by Chiwenga in critique, Tagwirei wasn’t just embracing the insult; he was weaponizing it.
He characterised the move as an act of political theatre—one that transforms ridicule into rhetoric and turns subversion into a public spectacle. Said Chikomo:
It reads less like reconciliation and more like a strategic act of dominance: “Yes, we are Zvigananda—so what? Now what?”
Chikomo believes the statement could be testing allegiances and sending a message far beyond the immediate circle. He said:
In Zimbabwe’s political terrain, such a public gesture sends waves far beyond the stage—it tests silence, measures allegiances, and dares response.
Whether this signals a shift in the internal balance of power within ZANU PF or simply reflects unchecked arrogance remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: power, in its rawest form, is often performed long before it’s declared.
If Chiwenga coined the term as criticism, and Tagwirei now wears it as a crown, then the narrative has shifted—whether temporarily or structurally.
In a system where symbolism speaks louder than press statements, this move feels like more than bravado.
It may be a signal that the old rules of reverence and restraint are being rewritten—or, more dangerously, ignored.
Chikomo was responding to comments made by prominent constitutional lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who had questioned the motivations behind Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s public embrace of the controversial term “Zvigananda” to describe his associates.
Mpofu took to social media to reflect on Tagwirei’s apparent reclamation of the label, suggesting it may be a subtle act of defiance aimed at Chiwenga.
Tagwirei, the influential CEO of Sakunda Holdings, made the remarks over the weekend while speaking at Masvingo Polytechnic College during the “Leadership Success Series” programme. He said:
This is Obey Chimuka, the owner of Fossil Contracting. He has done so many projects and some people think his projects are my projects…his company is also behind the recent construction of the Mbare Musika Market…he is a Chigananda.
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