ZANU PF central committee member and businessman Paul Tungwarara has declared a return to his empowerment programmes in Manicaland, reigniting a power struggle with rival businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei as competition intensifies among President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies.
The public re-emergence of the businessman highlights growing jockeying for influence, resources, and political relevance within Zanu PF as the debate over Mnangagwa’s political future continues.
Addressing party supporters during Zanu PF’s National Cell Day in ward 6 of Chipinge Central at the weekend, Tungwarara said his empowerment projects would resume through party structures.
He also claimed that Manicaland provincial chairperson Tawanda Mukodza had criticised him for abandoning projects in the province.
"Your chairman Tawanda Mukodza was after me over projects in Manicaland. I have been away, for sure. I have been forced to work so that I come back to society," Tungwarara said.
"I am back. I had to go and work and, through Zanu PF structures, you are going to get empowerment projects."
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Tungwarara told supporters that ward 6, where he said he is registered as a party member, would be among the first beneficiaries.
"This is my ward and you are going to benefit more from my projects," he said.
He also distributed US$50 to each of the 50 party members who attended the cell meeting.
Tungwarara has become an increasingly prominent figure in Zanu PF politics after publicly criticising senior party figures in remarks widely interpreted as targeting Tagwirei, although both businessmen have repeatedly denied any fallout.
The latest developments come after Tagwirei recently pledged to finance development projects in Manicaland, a province widely regarded as one of Tungwarara’s political strongholds.
The rivalry between the two businessmen-turned-politicians has exposed growing competition among Mnangagwa allies for influence within the ruling party as succession questions continue to dominate internal political discourse.
According to party sources, Tagwirei’s pledge, delivered through his ally Obey Chimuka at the funeral of Harry Dumba in Makoni District, angered senior Zanu-PF figures aligned to Tungwarara.
Tagwirei has sponsored a number of development initiatives in Manicaland, including borehole drilling, road construction, and charitable projects.
The tensions mirror a public dispute that erupted in January when Tungwarara — the founder of Prevail Group International and special presidential investment adviser — accused unnamed individuals of using their wealth to buy political influence, positioning themselves as successors to Mnangagwa and interfering in government appointments. Those remarks triggered a backlash from figures aligned to Tagwirei, culminating in the suspension of Tungwarara’s Presidential Economic Empowerment Revolving Fund and the withdrawal of approvals for some of his projects.
In February, Tungwarara sought to downplay reports of a rift, describing Tagwirei as his "mentor and brother."
The divisions have also played out on social media, where rival groups of Zanu-PF activists have traded accusations in support of either Tungwarara or Tagwirei.
The rivalry drew further attention after Tungwarara gave social media personality Rutendo Matinyarare a luxury vehicle and US$200 000, saying the funds were intended to persuade him to stop attacking Mnangagwa and his family.
Matinyarare had previously claimed Tagwirei owed him money for lobbying work related to the campaign for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Some Zanu-PF activists have alleged the payment was intended to undermine Tagwirei, although Tungwarara has not publicly endorsed that claim.
After rising to prominence in 2022, Tungwarara secured several government-linked contracts, including projects under the Presidential Borehole Scheme, the Presidential War Veterans Borehole Scheme, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme, and the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Programme.
He was appointed special presidential investment adviser to the United Arab Emirates in 2024 and has also been associated with the US$500 million Zim Cyber City project being developed in Mount Hampden by UAE-based Mulk International.
The internal contest comes as Zanu-PF grapples with widening divisions between a younger group of influential businessmen and the party's old guard, including war veterans opposed to proposals to extend Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028.