- Tagwirei named among the most corrupt people in Zimbabwe
- Zanu PF Youth League distances self from utterances by Matutu and Tsenengamu
- Tagwirei said to be sponsoring machete gangs
CRACKS are beginning to tell within the Zanu PF Youth League hierarchy, amid clear signs of divisions exposed by Monday’s Press conference hosted by arguably two of the league’s most influential senior officials.
Monday’s presser was called by Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu, Zanu PF party youth deputy secretary and commissar, respectively.
At the Press conference, the two took a dig at businesses tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei and other top Zanu PF officials who they said had brought the country to its knees through corruption.
But a tweet said to have been written by the Zanu PF Youth League dismissed utterances by the two, saying Matutu and Tsenengamu’s views were personal.
“We disassociate ourselves from (the) ongoing presser by Cdes Matutu and Tsenengamu. Views expressed don’t represent the Zanu PF Youth League but are their personal opinions. We urge anyone with incriminating evidence against anyone (within Zanu PF) to approach lawful authorities and responsible agencies for actioning (sic),” read the message.
The two Zanu PF youth leaders were told by their colleagues in the Zanu PF Youth League to utilise proper channels in their fight against corruption, advising them to avail corroborative evidence to relevant authorities for the strengthening of their case.
At the Press conference, Matutu and Tsenengamu accused controversial businessman Tagwirei of being corrupt, quizzing how an individual is able to spread his influence across all influancial sectors of the economy.
“These cartels are very powerful and connected, and not just to one political party.Whoever comes into power will leave them stealing (sic),” Tsenengamu said.
“He (Tagwirei) is leading some mining companies which are sponsoring the machete gangs as they rob gold from hardworking Zimbabweans,” Matutu alleged.
Tsenengamu also accused Tagwirei of manipulating Command Agriculture programmes to expand his Punjab car business empire.
“Tagwirei runs a car import company. He works with a guy called Brighton. When government requires 40 cars, he imports 100 and the rest come in duty free,” Tsenengamu added.
“If you go to Tagwirei’s car sales (company), he has top-of-the range vehicles he brought in under the corrupt Command Agriculture schemes. He has done this because leaders have allowed it,” Tsenengamu added.
Matutu also claimed Tagwirei was using people in government and parastatals to secure lucrative tenders and contracts.
“Tagwirei claims he has protection of everyone from President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa to Vice President (Constantino) Chiwenga. Our leaders must now choose whether they want to stand with Tagwirei, or the people,” Matutu said.
He also challenged the President to exonerate himself from corrupt and underhand activities that are being committed in his name.
The two youth leaders also claimed the Zanu PF Youth League was now captured.
While addressing the Press, Matutu and Tsenengamu accused Tagwirei of sponsoring the popular machete gangs responsible for wreaking havoc in the gold mining sector across Zimbabwe.