Former ZANU PF political commissar and cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere has hit back hard at Kudakwashe Tagwirei, launching a fiery and detailed attack on the controversial businessman whom he accuses of being a symbol of deep-rooted, state-enabled corruption that continues to cripple Zimbabwe’s economy.
The war of words was triggered by Tagwirei’s comments during a recent business event in Bulawayo, where the Sakunda Holdings boss described Kasukuwere as “one of the most corrupt people I know.” That statement appears to have opened the floodgates, prompting a blistering rebuttal from Kasukuwere, who dismissed the accusations as “malicious lies” designed to divert attention from Tagwirei’s own murky dealings.
“That one, Tagwirei, is the most corrupt person I know in Zimbabwe,” Kasukuwere retorted. “He didn’t even deny it. Instead, he implied others are more corrupt than him — as if that excuses anything. He’s openly admitting to corruption, just claiming he’s less corrupt or corrupt in a ‘better’ direction. It’s absurd.”
Central to Kasukuwere’s counterattack is the infamous Dema Power Project — a US$250 million emergency electricity scheme initiated in 2016 and awarded to Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings without a competitive bidding process. The project, initially touted as a solution to Zimbabwe’s chronic power shortages, ended in controversy and is widely viewed as a classic example of opaque public contracting gone wrong.
“He never tendered for that contract,” Kasukuwere asserted. “It was handed to him on a silver platter. And now he stands on public platforms pretending he’s a legitimate businessman? What he really is, is a tenderpreneur — someone who profits off the state through backdoor deals.”
Kasukuwere Fires Back at Tagwirei in Explosive Exchange Over Corruption Allegations
Kasukuwere, who served under the late President Robert Mugabe and was part of Cabinet at the time the Dema deal was signed, also took issue with Tagwirei’s claim that the project had been approved by the highest levels of government.
“Let me make this clear — Cabinet never approved that corrupt Dema deal,” Kasukuwere said. “I was there. It was debated and heavily criticised. Parliament also questioned it. What Tagwirei is saying about ‘Cabinet authority’ is either a gross misunderstanding or a deliberate distortion of government procedure.”
He continued: “Cabinet doesn’t approve tenders. That’s the job of the State Procurement Board and relevant ministries through formal public procurement systems. His understanding of how government works is dangerously flawed. ‘Cabinet authority’ isn’t a green light for tenders; it’s more often used to permit travel for ministers or make high-level appointments — not to rubber-stamp shady contracts.”
Kasukuwere also took a swipe at Tagwirei for what he described as public displays of arrogance and ignorance, citing the businessman’s claim that the next general elections in Zimbabwe will take place in 2030, when the constitutionally mandated date is actually 2028.
“He doesn’t even know when the next election is. And yet he talks about leadership and national development?” Kasukuwere scoffed. “This man wants to shape Zimbabwe’s future, but he can’t even get basic facts right. What he really needs to do is explain the source of his immense wealth, the dozens of questionable government contracts, and how he’s become one of the richest men in the country without delivering any value to ordinary citizens.”
Throughout his statement, Kasukuwere painted Tagwirei as the face of systemic corruption — a businessman who has profited handsomely from state favours, monopolies, and preferential treatment while the broader Zimbabwean economy continues to decline and millions struggle with poverty and inflation.
“His type of corruption has gutted our economy,” Kasukuwere said. “Public money meant for health, for education, for jobs — all of it has been siphoned into the pockets of politically connected individuals like him. Enough is enough.”
He concluded with a stern warning: “The day of reckoning is coming. Zimbabweans are tired of a system that benefits a few at the expense of the many. Tell Tagwirei I said it — it’s time he was held accountable. His time of hiding behind power and influence will not last forever.”
Kasukuwere’s explosive response has reignited debate around the role of politically connected elites in Zimbabwe’s economic collapse. It also underscores ongoing tensions between former ZANU PF figures and the current establishment, as more internal feuds spill into the public domain.
As of now, Tagwirei has not issued a response to Kasukuwere’s remarks. But with the spotlight back on his controversial business dealings and political connections, scrutiny over his role in Zimbabwe’s public finance system is likely to intensify in the weeks to come.
Source- Bulawayo24
