Businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s potential appointment to a position in the country’s presidium has reportedly caused divisions within the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, where he is an influential member.
ZANU PF’s Harare Province recently recommended that Tagwirei be co-opted into the party’s Central Committee.
Tagwirei is widely believed to be President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s preferred successor, ahead of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.
A group of disgruntled members recently petitioned the SDA Church’s global headquarters, the General Conference, demanding the revocation of a Global Award of Excellence that was awarded to Tagwirei. They expressed discomfort with his involvement in ZANU PF politics.
The petition was also sent to the Zimbabwe Union Conference, the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID), and the 62nd General Conference Session.
Tagwirei became the first Black person to receive the Global Award of Excellence from the General Conference of the SDA Church. He was conferred with the award last month at Solusi University.
However, some SDA Church leaders claimed the petition was malicious and intended to discredit the businessman.
In a statement, Heather Dube from City Centre Church said those opposing Tagwirei were frustrated because they had failed to secure financial support from him. Said Dube:
<blockquote>
It is crucial to recognise that since Mr Tagwirei entered the mainstream political arena, the intensity of these allegations has significantly increased.
This organised campaign is rooted in frustration; these detractors were unable to secure financial backing from Tagwirei for their own agendas, prompting them to resort to character assassination.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200040639/tagwireis-presidential-ambition-divides-sda-church">NewsDay</a>

Pindula News

Kuda Tagwirei might get a big job in Zimbabwe, and some people in the SDA Church are not happy about it. They are worried because he is involved in politics and might become the next president. Some church members even asked for an award given to him to be taken away. But some church leaders think this is just a way to bring him down because they didn't get money from him. Some people are supporting Tagwirei because they believe he can help them with their goals. The church is divided over these issues.

Kuda Tagwirei’s Political Rise Sparks Division Within SDA Church

Outspoken war veteran Blessed Runesu Geza, also known as Comrade Bombshell, has accused businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei of causing problems in the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church in Zimbabwe.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, April 2, Geza said Tagwirei has damaged the church’s reputation. He said:
<blockquote>
You have destroyed the SDA church. There are clashes now in the SDA church because of you. Because of your greediness. You tarnish the SDA church’s image. Destroying all the dignity the church had. It is our church.
</blockquote>
Geza accused Tagwirei of benefiting from government contracts without proper financial contributions, alleging that the government covers any associated costs. He said:
<blockquote>
You’re being given government companies without paying any cent. If there is any money that is being paid, it is the government that pays on your behalf. You’re greedy. You’re a very toxic man.
</blockquote>
Prominent lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu, a member of the SDA church, said he does not agree with Tagwirei’s current moves. Said Mpofu:
<blockquote>
I do not represent or speak on behalf of the SDA Church. As an individual outside of its formal structures (and a mere Usher at best), I do not feel obligated to defend its actions or decisions, particularly regarding the Tagwirei issue, with which I personally disagree.
The nation must direct its concerns, which I feel are legitimate, to the church itself which has a moral obligation to address them. I share the concerns being raised by Zimbabweans; particularly as recently articulated by Elder Geza.
On the question of how this country must be run, my views align with those of the Catholic Bishops.
</blockquote>
Tagwirei has been accused of causing division in the SDA church in Harare by using his financial influence to win over pastors and elders, making them loyal to him.
Recently, ZANU PF’s Harare Province recommended Tagwirei for a position in the party’s Central Committee—the top decision-making body when Congress is not in session.
Geza claimed that President Mnangagwa’s plan is to sideline Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and allow Tagwirei to replace him.
Reports suggest that the plan is for Tagwirei to first take over Chiwenga’s Vice President role, then be prepared to succeed Mnangagwa as president.
Geza, who has accused Tagwirei of corruption, vowed to stop what he believes is a plot by Mnangagwa and his wife, Auxillia, to help Tagwirei become president.
More: <a href="https://nehandaradio.com/2025/04/04/geza-says-controversial-tycoon-tagwirei-destroying-sda-church-in-zimbabwe/">Nehanda Radio</a>

Blessed Geza says Kuda Tagwirei is causing problems in the SDA Church. Geza accused Tagwirei of damaging the church's reputation by being greedy. He said Tagwirei benefits from government contracts without paying, making the government cover costs. Lawyer Thabani Mpofu does not agree with Tagwirei's actions. Tagwirei is accused of causing division in the SDA Church in Harare. There are reports that Tagwirei could replace the Vice President and eventually become President with support from Mnangagwa and his wife. Geza vows to stop this plan.

Geza Says Kuda Tagwirei Has Tarnished SDA Church's Image

Former ZANU PF Central Committee member and war veteran, Blessed Geza, has claimed that Kudakwashe Tagwirei wants to become Zimbabwe’s next president through underhanded means.
Tagwirei, a businessman with significant political connections within ZANU PF, is known for his influence in the country’s fuel, mining, and financial sectors.
He is the founder and CEO of Sakunda Holdings, a company involved in energy and infrastructure projects.
Recently, ZANU PF’s Harare Province recommended Tagwirei for a position in the party’s Central Committee—the ruling party’s top decision-making body when Congress is not in session, with powers to amend the constitution, implement policies, and oversee party and government activities.
During an address to the nation on Monday evening, Geza alleged that President Mnangagwa’s plan was to marginalise Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and allow Tagwirei to replace him.
According to reports, the plan is for Tagwirei to first take Chiwenga’s position as Vice President before being groomed as Mnangagwa’s successor.
Geza, who has accused Tagwirei of corruption, vowed to thwart what he claims is a plan being orchestrated by Mnangagwa and his wife, Auxillia, to elevate Tagwirei to the presidency. Said Geza:
<blockquote>
You’re being given government companies without paying any cent. If there is any money that is being paid, it is the government that pays on your behalf. You’re greed. You’re a very toxic man.
You’re not entering politics. Don’t undermine us. Thousands and thousands of people died for this country. And you want to be the next President.
You’re being influenced by Mnangagwa and Auxillia. You want to be President through the back door. That will not happen.
</blockquote>
Geza has repeatedly called for President Mnangagwa to step down and has publicly expressed his support for Vice President Chiwenga to succeed him.

Blessed Geza says Kuda Tagwirei wants to be President of Zimbabwe in a sneaky way. Tagwirei is a big businessman in fuel, mining, and finance. He is recommended for a top position in the ruling party. Geza thinks President Mnangagwa wants Tagwirei to replace Vice President Chiwenga. Geza accuses Tagwirei of corruption and vows to stop him from becoming president. Geza wants President Mnangagwa to step down and support Chiwenga to be the next president instead. Geza thinks Tagwirei is being controlled by Mnangagwa and his wife.

Geza Vows To Stop Kuda Tagwirei From Becoming Zimbabwe’s Next President

The ZANU PF Harare Province has decided to recommend businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei for a position in the ruling party’s Central Committee.
The Central Committee is the party’s top decision-making body when Congress is not in session, with powers to amend the constitution, implement policies, and manage party and government activities.
During a meeting on Monday afternoon (31 March) at the party’s provincial headquarters, provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa described Tagwirei as a visionary business leader. He said:
<blockquote>
Members of the Central Committee in Harare have proposed that Cde Tagwirei be recommended for co-option into the Central Committee of ZANU PF.
Cde Tagwirei is a party member in the Harare Metropolitan Province. He is a business strategist; a visionary business leader.
So the proposal was put forward and the PCC unanimously agreed to recommend him for co-option into the Central Committee of ZANU PF.
We are going to submit this recommendation to the party’s Secretary-General, Dr Obert Mpofu.
</blockquote>
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has speculated that Tagwirei is on a path to be appointed to the ZANU PF politburo, potentially positioning him to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the party’s leader when the time comes.
Chin’ono suggested that this agenda serves as a tactical maneuver to prevent General Constantino Chiwenga from ascending to the presidency, allowing Mnangagwa to install his preferred successor instead.
Chin’ono also claimed that Mnangagwa is planning to retire his “clansman”, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, from the army and bring him in as a replacement for Vice-President Kembo Mohadi.

The ZANU PF Harare Province wants businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei to join the ruling party's Central Committee. This committee makes important decisions for the party. The province believes Tagwirei is a smart business leader and should be part of the committee. Journalist Hopewell Chin'ono thinks that Tagwirei might become the party leader in the future. Chin'ono also thinks that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has a plan to choose his own successor instead of General Constantino Chiwenga. Mnangagwa may also retire General Philip Valerio Sibanda from the army and make him Vice-President.

ZANU PF Harare Province Endorses Kudakwashe Tagwirei For Central Committee

Businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, through his Bridging Gaps Foundation (BGF), is supporting communities in Mutoko District, Mashonaland East.
As reported by The NewHawks, BGF is drilling boreholes and installing water and solar systems at Kushinga Clinic, Kushinga Primary School, and Kushinga Secondary School to improve access to clean water and power.
Tagwirei, who is an adviser to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and a key ZANU PF funder, owns Sakunda Holdings and several other businesses.
He is also a Seventh-Day Adventist Church elder and preacher and was recently appointed to the Land Tenure Implementation Committee by Mnangagwa.
BGF which he runs with his wife Sandra, has donated 15 tonnes of maize meal, 3,000 litres of cooking oil, sugar, salt, and sugar beans to benefit 1,500 households in Ward 26 of Mutoko.
Tagwirei is also committed to building churches in various regions, including Mutoko.
Through his foundation, Tagwirei has been providing free medical care in areas like Domboshava, Mashonaland East, and Plumtree, Matabeleland South, offering services such as dental care, blood pressure checks, antenatal care, optometry, diabetes management, and healthy eating advice.
Tagwirei owns Arundel Hospital in Harare, where he provides free medical services to his church members.
He also sponsors local football teams, Dynamos and Highlanders, through Sakunda.

Kuda Tagwirei is helping schools and clinics in Mutoko District by drilling wells and providing solar power. He is a businessman who owns Sakunda Holdings and helps his community. He also donates food to families in need and supports building churches. Kuda Tagwirei's foundation offers free medical care in different areas in Zimbabwe. He owns a hospital in Harare where church members can get free medical help. He also helps sponsor local football teams. Overall, Kuda Tagwirei is doing good things to help his community.

Kuda Tagwirei Brings Clean Water And Solar Power To Schools And Clinics

Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has gifted tycoon Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei a brand-new 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan to celebrate the latter’s birthday this Wednesday, 12 February.
Chivayo praised Tagwirei, calling him “a businessman of unquestionable integrity, a mentor, a role model, and a beacon of hope to many… businessmen”.
He further claimed that Tagwirei’s commitment to ethical business practices and his dedication to empowering others, especially the youth, made him a standout figure in the business community.
Both Chivayo and Tagwirei are known for their close ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Added Chivayo:
<blockquote>
To honour your EXCEPTIONAL LEGACY and celebrate your birthday in a manner that befits your esteemed STATUS, today the 12th of February 2025, I confirm that I have PAID IN FULL for your brand-new 2025 ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN BLACK BADGE in OLIVE GREEN colour inspired by the biblical OLIVE TREE which symbolizes your heart of love and solid faith.
The Two-Tone Olive Green and cream interior has been meticulously selected to reflect your grace, wisdom and stature.
At a cost of 1,2 million USD full duty and import taxes paid your CUSTOM MADE masterpiece will go into production in APRIL and will be delivered to you in JULY this year WITHOUT FAIL.
This is my small way of saying THANK YOU and as a tribute to your enduring LEGACY and the inspiration you have instilled in so many businessmen, including myself.
I hope you will accept this gift as my small token of appreciation and as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude for the impact you have had one my life and countless others.
</blockquote>
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gjk9ZzNWEAA-JLA?format=jpg&amp;name=small"/>
Critics argue that Tagwirei’s close relationships with influential political figures, including Mnangagwa have allowed him to secure lucrative government contracts and gain unfair advantages in business dealings.
Tagwirei has faced sanctions from the US and UK for alleged corruption ties. His involvement in various sectors, such as mining, energy, and agriculture, has been scrutinized for potential cronyism and unethical practices.
Tagwirei’s business empire includes significant holdings in companies like Kuvimba Mining House, which consolidated state-owned assets under his control.
Despite the controversies, Tagwirei’s companies have been involved in various philanthropic activities, including donations to schools, and hospitals, sponsoring football clubs (Dynamos and Highlanders) and community projects.

Wicknell Chivayo gave Kuda Tagwirei a fancy 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan for his birthday. Chivayo thinks Tagwirei is a great businessman and role model. Both are close to the President of Zimbabwe. Chivayo paid for the car as a tribute to Tagwirei's legacy. Some people criticize Tagwirei for his political connections and alleged corruption. Tagwirei's companies help schools, hospitals, and communities, despite the controversies. The car will be delivered in July. Tagwirei's business empire includes mining, energy, and agriculture. Critics say he gets special treatment because of his connections.

Chivayo Gifts Kuda Tagwirei A 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan For His Birthday

Constitutional law expert Fadzayi Mahere has said the government cannot issue title deeds for farms that were seized and redistributed during the land reform programme without first amending the constitution, as doing so would be unlawful.
This follows the government’s recent appointment of the Land Tenure Implementation Committee, chaired by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, to convert existing land ownership documents (such as 99-year leases) into bankable, registrable, and transferable titles.
The goal is to enable farmers to use their land as collateral to secure loans from financial institutions.
However, Mahere argued that, at present, no law empowers the state to issue title deeds for agricultural land. She expressed her views on social media:
<blockquote>
At law, there are only 3 methods by which one can hold, use or occupy state land. These are by way of an offer letter, a permit or a lease.
There is no law that empowers the state to give out title deeds for agricultural land. The Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act says this expressly.
Ownership in state land vests in the State by operation of law in terms of section 72(4) of the Constitution.
All the previously held title deeds for this land were endorsed accordingly. Check the Deeds Office.
How would you purport to undo all that and start issuing new title deeds? There’s no legal mechanism by which such conveyancing can validly take place.
In short, it would be unconstitutional to alienate the land in the manner suggested. You would have to repeal section 72 of the Constitution in its entirety and effectively reverse everything you were trying to do during the Land Reform Program.
You’d have to amend the Constitution to create this imagined security of tenure. Stop lying to yourselves and the public.
</blockquote>

The government cannot give out title deeds for farms without changing the constitution first, says Fadzayi Mahere. They appointed a committee to make existing land documents more valuable. Farmers could use their land as collateral for loans. But Mahere says there is no law to give out title deeds for agricultural land now. This would go against the constitution. They would have to change the Constitution completely to do this. Mahere says the government is not being honest about this.

Government Cannot Issue Title Deeds For Farms Without Constitutional Amendment - Mahere

Kudakwashe Tagwirei, chairperson of the Land Tenure Implementation Committee, said the introduction of bankable title deeds for State-owned land will not result in financial institutions seizing large tracts of land or lead to a reversal of the Land Reform Programme.
Speaking on ZBCTV’s “Face the Nation” programme on Wednesday night, Tagwirei said it would be impossible for banks to confiscate land from beneficiaries of the agrarian reform who fail to repay loans extended under the scheme.
He also rejected claims that he would personally seize land from struggling or defaulting farmers, adding that the issuance of title deeds would indirectly address issues related to multiple farm ownership. Said Tagwirei:
<blockquote>
The land belongs to the Government, it does not belong to the bank. If you look at the total value of this land that we are talking about, the actual value is around US$20 billion. There is no bank that can give a mortgage for that land.
So what the banks are merely doing is administering the mortgage that this farmer is going to get (through Government) on that piece of land. The ultimate owner of this land still remains Government, it’s not the bank that owns it.
When the bank is ‘repossessing’ this land for whatever reason, maybe the farmer has failed to pay, remember that the owner is still the Government… ok? They (banks) will have to consult Government, obviously, when they are doing that process.
One of the things that you must understand is that these farmers are supposed to be commercial farmers, not subsistence farmers.
When you were applying to get that piece of land, you were saying I want to be a commercial farmer.
And the risks that are associated with being a commercial farmer are that you must make sure that you work the land so that you are able to pay back.
</blockquote>
Tagwirei said that because title deeds are allocated based on an individual’s unique national identification (ID) number, this system could help address public concerns about multiple farm ownership. He said:
<blockquote>
When an ID is given to an individual, to a citizen of this country, the ID is a unique identifier to an individual. When we are issuing title to a farmer, the main focus point is the ID number; we will issue it on the basis of that ID number.
When the bank repossesses this land — because a bank cannot take land — on behalf of Government, the bank cannot then own the land because they have no ID number.
</blockquote>
Tagwirei revealed that banks would solely administer a fund designed to, among other things, provide affordable financing to farmers.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Banks cannot take land from farmers with title deeds, says Tagwirei. Title deeds will not lead to banks seizing land. The land still belongs to the government. Banks can only help farmers get loans with the land as security. Farmers must be commercial, not subsistence. Title deeds are linked to farmers' unique ID numbers to prevent multiple ownership. Banks will only manage a fund to help farmers get affordable loans. Farmers must work the land to pay back the loans. Tagwirei will not personally take land from farmers in trouble. Land is still government property, not the banks'.

Banks Can't Seize Land From Farmers With Title Deeds, Says Tagwirei

Sakunda Holdings has unveiled a remarkable US$1.5 million per season sponsorship package for the newly promoted Premier Soccer League (PSL) side, Scottland Football Club, for the next five years.
This package marks the biggest single sponsorship by an individual organisation to a single club in the league’s history.
Sakunda, which also sponsors Dynamos and Highlanders with US$1 million per season each, will provide Scottland with playing, training, and travel kits on a regular basis.
Sakunda Holdings has also committed to aiding the construction of Scottland’s proposed 15,000-seater stadium in Mabvuku.
The energy company, owned by Kuda Tagwirei, will facilitate visits for Scottland officials to three world-class stadiums of their choice, enabling them to gather insights for their own stadium project.
Moreover, both the Scottland coach and captain will receive top-of-the-range cars, similar to the arrangements Sakunda Holdings has with Dynamos and Highlanders.
Speaking during the unveiling of the sponsorship agreement on Thursday, December 19, Tagwirei said:
<blockquote>
We are committed to helping Scottland achieve success as they start their journey in the Premier Soccer League.
I urge Scottland to value their fans and their players so that they move in the right direction.
Eventually, you should create a model where you run the club as a business.
For that to happen, you should value your publics, and everything will fall into place.
We are obviously happy to be associated with Scottland and we are determined to see them succeed in their endeavours.
We are committed to seeing you doing well, and we are there to hold your hand. We hope to see you becoming champions sooner rather than later.
</blockquote>
Scottland president Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya said the sponsorship package will enable the club to attract top-tier players and coaches. He said:
<blockquote>
This means a great deal because, as you know, Scottland are not just embarking on success only in the field of play, but we also want success off the field.
And when I say that, we are looking at the stadium in Mabvuku; we are looking at programs that help the youths.
So we would like to thank Dr. Tagwirei for his generosity.
When we get sponsorship like this, everything becomes easy; the acquisition of players becomes easy.
The calibre of the players and the quality of the coaches that you get will be top, top level.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Sakunda Holdings is giving Scottland Football Club $1.5 million every year for the next five years. This is the biggest sponsorship deal in the league's history. Sakunda will give Scottland kits and help build a new stadium. They will also provide top cars to the coach and captain. Sakunda wants Scottland to do well and become champions. Scottland's president is happy because this money will help them get good players and coaches, and improve the club overall.

Sakunda Holdings Unveils US$1.5 Million Sponsorship To Scottland

Controversial businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, through his foundation, paid the Rainbow Tourism Group US$245,000, leading to the cancellation of Winky D’s New Year’s Eve performance at the Harare International Conference Centre.
This booking included 200 rooms for five days. <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/hicc-locked-out-winky-d-after-us245000-windfall-from-tagwirei/">ZimLive</a> reported that Tagwirei’s Bridging Gaps Foundation reserved the venue on behalf of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which he is a devoted member. A source briefed on the developments said:
<blockquote>
The SDAs usually hold a Crossover Service at Glamis Arena Stadium. It was Rainbow which invited Tagwirei to use the HICC, not the other way round.
Rainbow insisted that the arrangement with Winky D was not financially beneficial as it involved revenue share, whereas they wanted an outright payment for use of the venue.
They negotiated an arrangement where Tagwirei pays US$245,000 for the HICC and 200 rooms for five days.
</blockquote>
Earlier this month, Winky D’s legal counsel, Tsunga Law International, said the venue owners decided to prioritize another event on December 31, 2024, despite an established agreement with Winky D.
The law firm also said the venue had been secured as early as May 2024, with all necessary arrangements already in place for the show.
Rainbow corporate communications manager Pride Khumbula did not respond to inquiries from ZimLive, and Tagwirei also declined to comment.
The hotel group, partially owned by the state, is facing backlash from Winky D fans who accuse it of conspiring with the ruling ZANU PF party to silence the musician. Tagwirei’s involvement has intensified these suspicions.
Winky D’s sharp social commentary has drawn the attention of ZANU PF, leading to his music being blacklisted by ZBC at one point.
It remains uncertain whether Winky D will proceed with his New Year’s Eve gig, as speculation grows that he may announce a different venue.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Controversial businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei paid lots of money for Winky D to cancel his concert. Tagwirei's foundation paid US$245,000 and booked 200 hotel rooms. The Seventh Day Adventist Church,which he belongs to, was part of the deal. The hotel wanted a straight payment, not a share of revenue from the concert. Fans of Winky D are upset and think the hotel is working with the government to stop him from performing. Winky D's music has made the government angry in the past. It's not clear if Winky D will have a concert or if he will choose a different place.

Tagwirei Behind Cancellation Of Winky D's HICC New Year’s Eve Performance

Zimbabwe’s new sovereign wealth fund, the Mutapa Investment Fund, reportedly paid a “grossly inflated” US$1.6 billion, which is 5 per cent of GDP, for shares in Kuvimba Mining House.
According to the latest The Sentry report, the secretive payment of US$1.6 billion was made to unknown private individuals to buy their shares in the mining conglomerate with recent links to Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a presidential adviser and ZANU PF donor.
The Sentry is a US-based investigative organisation that tracks corruption.
In a report published on Wednesday, The Sentry said US$1.6 billion in public debt was used by the Mutapa Investment Fund (formerly known as the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe), to purchase shares in Kuvimba, which owns about a dozen gold, lithium, nickel and platinum mines. It said:
<blockquote>
The Sentry’s analysis suggests that Mutapa paid a grossly inflated price for the shares.
</blockquote>
The report stated that until recently, the state had owned 65% of Kuvimba and private investors had held 35% of the shares. Said The Sentry report:
<blockquote>
A $1.6-billion price tag for a 35% stake would value Kuvimba at US$4.6 billion overall — triple the $1.5-billion valuation given to Kuvimba by the government in 2022. This would raise serious questions about whether Mutapa has grossly overvalued the shares.
A $4.6-billion valuation would also be much more than the amount that Tagwirei’s firms spent in 2019 on acquiring the mines before they transferred the assets to Kuvimba in 2020.
</blockquote>
Rising gold prices since 2020 might explain some of the increase in Kuvimba’s value. Said The Sentry:
<blockquote>
However, a $4.6-billion valuation seems distinctly frothy given that Kuvimba’s other mines have had mixed fortunes: Declining lithium prices have caused stockpiling, and the firm’s platinum and nickel projects are either inactive or loss-making.
</blockquote>
Tagwirei has denied links to Kuvimba, but previous reports have linked him to the mining conglomerate. Said The Sentry report:
<blockquote>
In 2021, The Sentry revealed how Tagwirei was a secret owner of up to 35% of Kuvimba. Tagwirei and Kuvimba deny he owns the shares, but authorities refuse to identify who received the US$1.6 billion payment for the 35% stake.
</blockquote>
The secretive payment of US$1.6 billion to undisclosed private individuals poses a threat to Zimbabwe’s debt restructuring negotiations, exacerbating the country’s liabilities.
Zimbabwe currently faces debt distress, impeding its ability to secure affordable loans from development banks due to previous defaults and significant arrears.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is actively guiding Zimbabwe and its creditors toward a structured debt restructuring process.
According to The Sentry report, lenders may find little reassurance in the fact that Zimbabwe’s debt has surged to $21 billion, especially considering that new debt equivalent to 5% of GDP seems to have been issued to compensate shareholders in Kuvimba, potentially linked to a politically connected businessman. It said:
<blockquote>
The point of sovereign wealth funds is to preserve and grow wealth to benefit Zimbabwean citizens. If the report of $1.6 billion paid to Kuvimba’s private investors is true, Zimbabwean taxpayers — who will have to repay this debt — should be angry that one of the first acts of their new sovereign wealth fund may have been to allocate wealth from the many to the few.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

US$1.6 Billion Paid To Mystery Shareholders By Mutapa Investment Fund

Zimbabwe’s state sovereign wealth fund, the Mutapa Investment Fund, has acquired full ownership of Kuvimba Mining House Ltd, a state mining company, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-08/zimbabwe-government-buys-out-minorities-in-kuvimba-mining">Bloomberg</a> reports. Kuvimba holds valuable mining assets that were previously controlled by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a tycoon sanctioned by the US and UK and an advisor to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2021/07/06/kuvimba-mining-house-denies-kudakwashe-tagwirei-links/">Kuvimba Mining House Denies Kudakwashe Tagwirei Links – July 2021</a></li>
</ul>
The government has not provided detailed information on how it gained control of these assets, except to say that they were acquired for an undisclosed amount. Initially, in 2021, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2021/07/06/kuvimba-mining-house-denies-kudakwashe-tagwirei-links/">the government stated that Kuvimba was 65% state-owned</a>, with the remaining 35% held by private investors described as a management consortium. The Mutapa Investment Fund first took over the government’s 65% stake and has now purchased the remaining 35%.
According to Simba Chinyemba, Kuvimba’s CEO, speculation about ownership has been unhelpful and persistent, despite evidence of Kuvimba’s structure, Chinyemba said in an interview in Cape Town on Thursday. “Kuvimba’s CEO. He spoke to Bloomberg in an interview in Cape Town on Thursday:
<blockquote>
The speculation was unhelpful and the fact that the speculation did not die out despite us presenting the evidence of the structure of Kuvimba. If there are questions about your shareholding then potential investors would want to think a little bit deeper about investing.
</blockquote>
He said such speculation complicates business dealings and may deter potential investors. Chinyemba confirmed being one of the beneficiaries of the buyout and emphasised that Tagwirei never owned or profited from the company’s operations, which include nickel and gold mines, as well as lithium and platinum deposits.
The amount paid for the 35% stake and the completion date of the transaction were not disclosed, but Chinyemba mentioned that it was a recent development. In 2021, Bloomberg published reports revealing the connections between Tagwirei and Sotic International Ltd., the company that previously held the assets now controlled by Kuvimba. Additional details about their relationship were later reported by The Financial Times and The Sentry.

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2021/08/14/tagwirei-may-have-shifted-assets-to-zimbabwe-following-sanctions-bloomberg/">Tagwirei May Have Shifted Assets To Zimbabwe Following Sanctions – Bloomberg</a></li>
</ul>
Chinyemba stated that Tagwirei, who was sanctioned by the US and UK governments, has no involvement in managing the business and does not hold any shares or receive royalties from Kuvimba. He emphasised the company’s focus on moving forward and raised the possibility of an initial public offering three years ago. Kuvimba’s assets include Darwendale, Zimbabwe’s largest platinum deposit, which was partially owned by Russian investors.
Currently, Kuvimba is working to secure nearly $900 million for the construction of platinum and lithium mines within its portfolio, as well as expanding one of its gold mines. Chinyemba stated that the company prefers to raise debt for the platinum and gold projects and form a joint venture for the lithium investment. Despite recent declines in lithium and platinum-group metal prices, Kuvimba believes it is the right time to develop new mines due to their long-term prospects.
Chinyemba expressed the company’s readiness to pursue funding opportunities, stating, “We don’t want to find ourselves trying to start production or trying to build plants when prices are high. If the funding is available now, we would happily go for it.”
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Zimbabwe's Mutapa Investment Fund Acquires Kuvimba Mining House

Zimbabwean presidential advisor <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kudakwashe_Tagwirei/">Kudakwashe Tagwirei</a> has said he is unmoved by allegations that he <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/07/08/report-says-kuda-tagwirei-illicitly-moved-money-from-rbz-to-london/">bought nickel and gold mines with fake invoices</a> and fronts worth R431m in 2019.
The Sentry and Open Secrets released a report titled “Fronts, Fakes, and Façades: How South African and Mauritian Enablers Helped Move Millions from Zimbabwe to Britain”. According to the report, Tagwirei used his relationships to gain state contracts and receive favoured access to hard currency. The report alleges that he moved suspicious funds from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) using fronts, false invoices, and offshore financial façades.
Tagwirei stands accused of using enablers from South African company directors, a Mauritian management company agent and a Cayman Islands investment fund. This was done to conceal the source of the final £8.7 million payment, and the report also alleges that the president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the permanent secretary at the finance ministry, George Guvamatanga, “took a close interest in Sotic’s affairs”.
Capital Horizons, a Mauritian company linked to the money transfers, responded to The Sentry, saying it dealt with Christopher Fourie who was once hired by Tagwirei to establish Sotic. Said Capital Horizons:
<blockquote>
When conducting media searches, Capital Horizons established that Mr Tagwirei and his company were partners of the Davos World Economic Forum Summit; he was involved in a limited number of commercial disputes; and he was subject to adverse comments from the political opposition party in Zimbabwe.
These results were mitigated by reasonable explanations and the clear unreliability of the politically motivated statements.
Capital Horizons addressed the commercial disputes with Mr Tagwirei and obtained from his lawyers an undertaking that he was not subject to any criminal or administrative investigations.
</blockquote>
The company says Tagwirei did not appear in the ownership of Almas Opportunity Fund, which owns 65% of Sotic. In response to inquiries by News24, Tagwirei said:
<blockquote>
I know that you already know that I don’t comment on such distractions.
</blockquote>
In 2020, the US sanctioned Kudakwashe Tagwirei for materially assisting senior Zimbabwean government officials involved in public corruption. He is accused of using his relationships to gain state contracts and favoured access to hard currency. The US referred to him as a notoriously corrupt Zimbabwean businessman.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Tagwirei Unfazed By Allegations Of Buying Mines With Fake Invoices And Fronts

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has donated farming implements and a bus to the Seventh-day Adventist-run Solusi University in Figtree.
The equipment includes tractors with ploughs, planters, harrows, and a 40-seater bus.
The donation was handed over to Solusi University at the institution’s 26th graduation ceremony by the guest of honour and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
Tagwirei is the founder and chief executive of Sakunda Holdings and an elder in the SDA church.
He said to complement the President’s donation, he donated a 60-seater bus, 10-tonne and four-tonne trucks, and three tractors to the university. Said Tagwirei:
<blockquote>
The President says he wants to help Solusi because it has 3 000 hectares of land, hence the donation of the tractor and other implements.
The President said he is concerned about the children, and the University students and has donated a 40-seater bus.
The President does not speak to the gallery like others, the bus is here, the tractor is here.
… We want the university to be self-sufficient, and as such we shall assist the university with setting up solar energy and fixing the sewer and water reticulation systems and all this will take 18 months to be completed.
We want Solusi to be self-sustainable and the trust will raise funds to go into commercial activities.
And we are going to help you to make use of your land through the institutions that you know.
</blockquote>
Tagwirei said salaries for workers at Solusi will be increased by 50 per cent and the university will now offer allowances to lecturers.
He also said the university will reduce prices for food at the canteen from US$2 to 50 cents.
Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tino Machakaire gave the university a 75-horse power tractor with all the implements that go with it.
Managing director at Fossil Contracting Obey Chimuka donated a car for the Vice Chancellor’s wife and another for one of the University’s Deans.
Trek Petroleum Managing director Innocent Mugwisi donated a car and fuel amounting to 5 000 litres per month for the next 18 months to the newly set up Solusi University Development Trust.
371 students graduated with degrees or diplomas. Solusi University Chancellor Micah Choga presided over the proceedings. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/president-donates-farming-equipment-bus-to-solusi/">The Herald</a>

Mnangagwa Donates Farming Equipment, Bus To Solusi University

Businessman Kuda Tagwirei has denied allegations of misappropriating US$3 billion in State funds under the Command Agriculture programme.
He commented on the allegations while officiating a graduation ceremony at Solusi University where he was a guest of honour.
The US$3 billion was released by the government during the 2017 and 2018 agricultural seasons but was not accounted for by the agricultural ministry according to a report by the Auditor General.
Tagwirei, who sponsors the programme, said it has been successful and those who speak up against it are mere detractors. He said:
<blockquote>
I did a project proposal for contract farming which we now call Command Agriculture and I had a problem because there was what was called the RTGS at that time and there was no money which was moving out of the country, so I had this problem but at the same time, there was this bigger problem in the country.
I gave them (the proposal) in 2015, the government took one year thinking about it and when they were thinking about it they had offers from other people to do the same programme.
My interest rate was the lowest. It was 4%. When we started the programme, no one thought it was going to succeed and no one talked about it.
When it was successful in 2017, the US Agriculture Department wrote that Zimbabwe was doing one of the best things in command agriculture.
(But) when they began to think about who I was supporting and that I was supporting the government of the day, they then said he stole US$3 billion and I was placed on sanctions.
So, this is what I was trying to do. To try and make the land become successful.
</blockquote>
The government-funded Command Agriculture programme was ostensibly established to ensure food security.
However, critics say the programme has been used to loot funds by the political elite and their business associates. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/tagwirei-opens-up-on-command-agriculture-sabotage-for-the-first-time/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Kuda Tagwirei Opens Up On Command Agriculture, Denies Stealing US$3 Billion

Businessman Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei, who is also a Seventh-day Adventist Church elder, says he is tired of being pestered by married women who come to him seeking financial assistance for their husbands.
Speaking while delivering a sermon to an SDA congregation, Tagwirei said he needed to “confess” a problem that he was facing.
He said he was being inundated with requests for money from married women. He said:
<blockquote>
I have a problem and I want to confess. A big problem. There are many women or wives who come to me looking for help on behalf of their husbands…
</blockquote>
Watch the video shared by The NewsHawks on Twitter:
<div>
<video controls="controls" height="290" preload="metadata" width="640"><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kudakwashe-Tagwirei.mp4">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kudakwashe-Tagwirei.mp4</a></video></div>
The United States of America imposed sanctions on Tagwirei and the fuel company Sakunda Holdings which he owns. <a href="https://2017-2021.state.gov/the-united-states-imposes-sanctions-on-zimbabwean-businessman-kudakwashe-tagwirei/index.html">A statement issued by the U.S. Department of State on 5 August 2020 read in part</a>:
<blockquote>
Pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13469, the United States is imposing sanctions against Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei, a notoriously corrupt Zimbabwean businessman, for materially assisting senior Zimbabwean government officials involved in public corruption.  Sakunda Holdings was also sanctioned for being owned or controlled by Tagwirei.
Tagwirei has longstanding ties to the ruling party in Zimbabwe and high-level governmental officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who were listed in the Annex to E.O. 13288 in March 2003. He has used his relationships to gain state contracts and receive favored access to hard currency, including U.S. dollars, especially in the Mnangagwa era.
Tagwirei is also the Chief Executive Officer of Zimbabwe-based Sakunda Holdings.  Government audit reports prompted a 2019 parliamentary inquiry into whether public funds were misappropriated, revealing the government had failed to account for about $3 billion disbursed under the Command Agriculture program, a state farm subsidy championed by President Mnangagwa and largely financed by Sakunda Holdings.
</blockquote>

WATCH: Kuda Tagwirei Confesses "A Big Problem" He Faces In His Life

South Africa-based Zimbabwean anti-sanctions campaigner, Rutendo Matinyarare, has said business mogul, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kudakwashe_Tagwirei">Kudakwashe Tagwirei,</a> made his empire from his retrenchment package in the early 2000s.
Matinyarare, the chairperson of the Zimbabweans Unite Against US War Sanctions (ZUAUWS), which is lobbying for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe, said the growth of Tagwireyi’s vast business empire could also be credited to his wife, Sandra, a former top bank executive.
Sandra and Kuda combined their names to name their company Sakunda.
Matinyangare speaks as Tagwirei and his Sakunda company are being accused of corruption characterised by winning government tenders without going to tender. 
Critics accuse Tagwirei of capitalising on his closeness to the ruling ZANU PF elite to build his business empire. Tagwirei has been placed on the US and UK sanctions lists because of his alleged links with the Presidium.
Matinyarare claimed that Tagwirei’s business-life story started in early 2000 after his retrenchment and at a time when the country was facing its worst fuel crisis. Matinyarare said in a long thread about Tagwirei’s business background:
<blockquote>
After Kuda got his retrenchment package, he combined with his wife to create Sakunda which is a neologism of Sandra and Kuda. They then went on to apply for a fuel trading licence and sadly, that year (2002), only 149 fuel licences were issued by the government and Sakunda missed out.
Instead of despairing, Sandra and Kuda leased a fuel licence from one of the connected people who had been licensed. In their first six months, they got a contract to supply US$500 000 worth of fuel per month to some entity, but they didn’t have the money.
They subsequently approached Sandra’s former boss, John Mangudya (then commercial head at a leading bank), and were advised to mortgage their house for the loan. They did just that, and after getting the loan, they began pushing half a million dollars’ worth of fuel every month.
</blockquote>
Matinyarare does not say who awarded Kuda and Sandra a tender to supply US$500 000 worth of fuel and how they were awarded the tender for which they had no capacity.
The whole article is premised on Sandra making Kuda a billionaire but it does not say what she actually did beyond having been employed by the CBZ where they got the US$500 000 for the tender. 
According to Matinyarare, Sakunda started pushing 20 million litres of fuel per month into the market, becoming the largest fuel supplier by 2012, attracting the attention of the government. Added Matinyarare:
<blockquote>
After some background checks by the intelligence, the government approached Sakunda and offered it a share of the Beira pipeline because the government had no money or capacity to carry the 60 million litres of fuel it was contracted to carry, thus it was losing money in fees for unused pipeline capacity.
Sandra and Kuda took a gamble by investing in sending fuel down a pipeline, even though they had dozens of trucks. This drastically reduced their fuel costs and increased their margins exponentially over competitors.
</blockquote>
He added that Kuda and Sandra made lots of money and grew wealth, “By innovating, learning, creating global relationships, taking risks, outsmarting the competition, keeping cash-in-hand to integrate (vertically and horizontally) the value chain, being willing to invest their money in projects like the pipeline and reinvesting their profits in the same country for years without splashing out on luxuries.”
He suggests that Kuda and Sandra are now being “demonised and called a monopoly for being smart, patriotic and innovative.” 
Tagwirei has interests in energy, mining, health, transport and banking sectors. Some fear state capture will be inevitable as he expands his empire.
<h2>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Matinyarare Says Kuda Tagwirei Built His Business Empire From Retrenchment Package

Local business tycoon, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, has reportedly earned at least US$100 million in fees from a partnership with Swiss-based Trafigura. 
Together, they have profited extensively by dominating Zimbabwe’s fuel market since 2013. He is the owner of Sakunda Holdings.
Trafigura is said to have quietly extended US$1 billion in loans to the Zimbabwean government, at exorbitant interest rates, thereby worsening the national debt.
As the controversy grew, Tagwirei reportedly moved his business network offshore to Mauritius, where he secured a new near-monopoly fuel deal with the government. 
Tagwirei, who is a close associate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is still active in mining and fuel deals in Zimbabwe.
Government officials appear on key company records and Tagwirei’s own correspondence, indicating that there might be more powerful people behind the network.
Tagwirei is said to have benefitted from Zimbabwe’s economy which remains in tatters despite Mnangagwa’s pledge in 2017 to turn around the country’s fortunes.
 Over the past four years, public debt — much of it illegally accrued — has ballooned; a lack of foreign currency and fuel shortages continue to cripple the economy, and the value of Zimbabwe’s local currency has plummeted.
Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a tycoon known locally as “Queen Bee” because of his vast economic influence, has enormously benefitted from the opaquely awarded government contracts worth billions of dollars and preferential access to minerals as well as scarce foreign currency.
Sanctioned by the U.S. and U.K. for corruption, Tagwirei allegedly continued to do business by relocating his network to Mauritius. 
More: <a href="https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/how-a-zimbabwe-tycoon-made-a-fortune-from-a-trafigura-partnership-and-spiralling-national-debt">OCCRP</a>

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