Go home and play with your children, Biti warns Tagwirei

Former Finance Minister and opposition politician Tendai Biti said ZANU PF Politburo member Kudakwashe Tagwirei is the most dangerous man in Zimbabwe, following his rapid elevation to one of the ruling party’s most powerful positions.

Biti’s scathing attack came after President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed the businessman as ZANU PF Secretary for Economic Affairs and Investment Promotion in the Politburo. The appointment caps a meteoric political rise for Tagwirei, who in recent months has been appointed to the ZANU PF Central Committee, then to the Senate and Cabinet, and now to the Politburo.

In a post on X, Biti warned that Tagwirei’s business methods cannot be translated into politics.

“Kuda Tagwirei has become the most dangerous man in Zimbabwe,” Biti wrote.

“Having brazenly acquired billions of dollars through crass and gross pillaging of public assets and resources, he has set his eyes on the highest political office in the land.”

Biti, a lawyer and former Treasury chief, accused the businessman of believing he could buy political power in the same way he has built his business empire.

“His hubris, arrogance and ego think that he can commodify political power in Zimbabwe on the same matrix he has sat in his soiled boardroom plotting tenders, schemes or scams,” he said.

Biti drew a sharp distinction between corporate manoeuvring and national politics, arguing that Tagwirei will learn that political power is not for sale.

“He will learn soon that buying off ZANU PF is not the same as getting into bed with Trafigura and acquiring rights over the Beira pipeline,” Biti claimed.

“That dealing with war vets is not the same as scamming off the National Social Security Authority to acquire its shares in First Mutual Life.”

Biti went on to allege that occupying the country’s top office cannot be achieved with the ease with which business deals are done.

He referenced Tagwirei’s Borrowdale residence and a major mining transaction, claiming the businessman acquired a US$1.9 billion Treasury Bill for his 35 per cent equity in Kuvimba Mining.

“This criminal element cannot get away with paying millions to divert public sentiment against CAB 3,” Biti wrote, further alleging that Tagwirei “cannot be allowed to continue doling out millions of dollars to buy his way into public spaces.”

Biti dismissed the display of wealth and patronage that has marked Tagwirei’s recent public appearances.

“GD sixes can never be the bridge to State House,” he said, in an apparent reference to the fleet of luxury Toyota Land Cruiser GD6 vehicles associated with Tagwirei’s philanthropy and political mobilisation.

Biti also criticised those within the ruling party who have facilitated Tagwirei’s rise.

“Those backing him, those who have fast-tracked his elevation into the ZANU Central Committee, the Senate, Cabinet and the ZANU Politburo must know that Zimbabwe is not a private limited company,” he said.

“Neither they, their ancestors or mistresses have title deeds to Zimbabwe. They have no right to play poker with Zimbabwean institutions and public offices. They have no right to push Zimbabwe to the brink.

“Our advice to Tagwirei is simple: Go back home and play with your children. This path you have chosen only has one guaranteed unhappy ending,” Biti said.

Related:

Biti: Tagwirei appointment a new low, the Gupturisation of Zimbabwe Tagwirei’s appointment to Cabinet unchristian and built on political skulduggery – Mpofu