Ray Kaukonde

Service/Career

Kaukonde is believed to have worked for the government of Zimbabwe as a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). He subsequently rose through the ranks in the Mashonaland East Province where he hails from. His greatest political bargain came when he was elected Member of Parliament for Mudzi district in Mashonaland East Province under Zanu PF. Taking advantage of the widespread influence of the political party in the province, Kaukonde subsequently became governor of Mashonaland East Province. He eventually left the seat under unknown circumstances and he left the country for a while following some conflicts within the party. His popularity saw his election as the provincial chairman of Zanu PF.

In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Marondera Central returned to Parliament:

• Ray Kaukonde of Zanu PF with 9 378 votes or 53.00 percent,
• Iain Kay of MDC–T with 7 892 votes or 44.60 percent,
• Kudzanai Mandaza of MDC–N with 314 votes or 1.77 percent,
• 1 others with 112 votes or 0.63 percent.

Total 17 696 votes

Events

Farm Mechanisation Scheme

In July 2020, Ray Kaukonde was listed, in the BSR of 18 July 2020, as a beneficiary in the 2007 RBZ Farm Mechanisation Scheme, as a result of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme.

The data is analysed by recipients origin:.

• Mashonaland provinces had the most beneficiaries, both in terms of numbers and value.
  

Mashonaland East got US$47,5 million,
Mashonaland West US$44,7 million
Mashonaland Central had US$34,2 million.

• Two Matebeleland provinces had a combined total of US$13,9 million.
• Masvingo US$26,4 million,
• Manicaland US$18 million
• Midlands US$14 million.

Ray Kaukonde is listed under the thematic group “Politicians”. According to the list, he has a debt of US$231,139.00. ^[3]

Factionalism Allegations

Public "Undressing" by Grace Mugabe- "Kaukondegate Speech"

In her "Meet the People Rallies" which covered all the country's ten provinces, the one in Mashonaland East Province led by Ray Kaukonde stole the limelight. Grace Mugabe who had been elected as the leader of the Zanu PF Women's League launched a public verbal attack on Ray Kaukonde at a rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera. ^[4] In a dramatic fit of emotional outburst, the then first lady accused Kaukonde of supporting one of the factions in the Zanu PF party. In her 10 minute long attack on Kaukonde, Grace Mugabe spoke of how Kaukonde was once loyal to former president Robert Mugabe and how he eventually fell by the wayside by supporting one of the factions. Although it was not very clear, speculation was rampant that Kaukonde belongs to a faction led by ousted former vice president Joice Mujuru. ^[5]

The speech by Amai Mugabe on Kaukonde attracted a lot of attention from both politicians and the electorate. Some critics argued that it was a diplomatic way by the former first lady to discredit the rival factions within the party while simultaneously re-imposing the revolutionary party's authority in the provinces. There also seemed to be a strong anti-factions rhetoric in all of Grace's speeches in her “Meet The People” rallies which were held countrywide. However, that of Mashonaland or the "Raygate" speech was a landmark because of its explicit and reductionist nature. Live coverage by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation of the rallies which included the "Kaukondegate" resulted in the speech on Kaukonde being one of the main highlights for the month of October in 2014. The media including social networks were awash with the story and comics even made fun out of it.

Attempted Ouster

Anti-Kaukonde Demo in Marondera

War Veterans, Women and the youths marched in the streets of Marondera demonstrating against their provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde. The placard holding mob marched to the party's provincial offices where they petitioned their grievances to Sydney Sekeramayi who also belongs to the provincial executive of Zanu PF in Mashonaland East Province.

The war veterans accused Kaukonde of organizing a group of youths who jeered at Grace Mugabe during her "meet the people" rally held at Rudhaka stadium in Marondera in October 2014. Kaukonde was also accused of organizing the youths who continuously beat the drums whilst Grace Mugabe was addressing the crowd. ^[6] This initial move to remove him from office was not officially recognized by the party because it did not involve the provincial executive committee which had the mandate to make binding and legitimate decisions against Kaukonde.

The Ouster

Kaukonde was on 17 November 2014 ousted as party chairman after a vote of no confidence was passed on him by some members of the provincial committee. ^[7] Kaukonde was replaced by Phineas Chihota who was appointed acting chairman. 27 out of 50 members of the executive voted for the ouster of Kaukonde. Kaukonde became the eighth provincial chairperson to be dismissed out after Amos Midzi, Temba Mliswa, Calisto Gwanetsa, Callistus Ndlovu, John Mvundura, Jason Machaya and Andrew Langa. He was fired together with seven other provincial executive members. ^[7] After his ouster from party ranks, Kaukonde was also stripped of his position in parliament. Kaukonde, who was the chairperson of the Industry and Commerce Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, was immediately replaced by Masvingo Central MP Edmore Mhere (Zanu PF). ^[8]

Expulsion From Zanu PF

Kaukonde was expelled from Zanu PF in what was believed to be an onslaught of Mujuru loyalists. The meeting which effected the expulsion took place on 21 May 2015 at one of the politburo meetings. The expulsion of Kaukonde followed his initial demotion from the provincial chairman's office. Kaukonde was believed to be one of Mujuru's strongman who bankrolled the Mujuru campaign to unseat Robert Mugabe from office.

Sex-For Power Storm

Kaukonde was accused of demanding sex from various women in return for political power (allgations made 2014). These allegations were raised by party supporters and who lamented that the party was being drawn into the mud by such immoral tendencies. During an anti-Kaukonde demo held in Marondera in November, party supporters denounced Kaukonde's womanizing behavior which also contributed to his subsequent ouster.^[9]

Business Empire

Amalgamated Motor Corporation

Ray Kaukonde is one of those innovative politicians who put their eggs in different baskets. One of his biggest investments is a famous company Amalgamated Motor Corporation (AMC). The company in the years from 2006 made great fortunes by supplying top range motor vehicles to Zanu PF and some government ministries. Kaukonde is believed to have used his influence in the party and also through the late Solomon Mujuru to win the contracts. ^[10] Among a number of deals with the government of Zimbabwe, Kaukonde's AMC also supplied vehicles to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. It is believed that the company supplied about 20 Mitsubishi cars including some top of the range cars which were specially purchased for the then-governor Gideon Gono and his three deputies.

Spar Retail Outlets

The famous Spar Retail outlet located at the Joina City Complex in Harare was believed to be one of the many business projects run by the business mogul cum politician. Ray Kaukonde, through his Scotia Group of companies, opened Joina City Spar - Zimbabwe’s largest supermarket by floor area. The 1500m² supermarket at the base of the 24 story Joina City building opened its doors to the public just at the same time as the building was commissioned. Thousands of people attended the opening ceremony to witness the opening of the imposing building that had become a symbol of Zimbabwe’s economic misery for the past decade.

The Joina City touted by many as a ‘city within a city’ opened its doors more than a decade after construction began during years of economic meltdown. ^[11] Besides the Joina City outlet, Kaukonde also owns the Spar retail outlet located in the country's most luxurious suburb of Borrowdale Brooke. The shop was opened in 2009 and boasts of its high profile clients and customers who include high profile politicians and business people most of whom live in the Borrowdale Brooke suburb.

The Zanu PF politician cum businessman has a vast business empire that stretches across the border into South Africa. In Zimbabwe alone, he owns RPK buses- a popular transport company which is popular in the local highways as well as across the borders of Zimbabwe. There is also Innscor Africa Limited which focuses in the production of bakery food and fast foods with a number of outlets in the country. Furthermore, he also owns Scotia Steel, Ray and Bryan, Bateleur Ventures, Motor City Toyota, Ray and Max Construction and an engineering firm which was involved in World cup projects in South Africa. ^[12]

Kaukonde Sues Newspapers

In 2014, Kaukonde sued The Sunday Mail and Sunday News over stories published by the said newspapers of demanding sexual favours from women in return for political power. Kaukonde was suing the newspapers for US$5 million for defamation. Through his lawyers, Kaukonde denied the allegations and he described them as baseless and dubious, he also cited that the stories were meant to tarnish his image.

Dismissal From Parliament

In 2015, Kaukonde was dismissed from Parliament after Zanu PF re-called him on the basis that he was no longer representing the interests of the party. This followed his expulsion from Zanu PF earlier. He was MP for Marondera Central Constituency and this made the seat vacant. ^[13]

Further Reading

References