Former Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, has reacted angrily to businessman, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who labelled him as a very corrupt individual.
Kasukuwere was responding to allegations by Tagwirei that he was the most corrupt individual in the country.
The businessman made the claims while answering questions on tender acquisition criteria at the second edition of the land tenure leadership success series held at the Zimbabwe National Science and Technology (Nust) campus in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
Tagwirei also singled out former Finance minister Tendai Biti as another corrupt individual.
He claimed Kasukuwere, who fled the country after the 2017 coup, has been labelling him corrupt yet he was one of the corrupt individuals.
The exiled politician, however, had no kind words for Tagwirei.
“In fact, on the United Kingdom sanctioned list, he was the only one sanctioned for corruption. That is the reason why he is the only one left there,” Kasukuwerre said.
“It is a known fact that (Tagwirei) has actually subverted the state of Zimbabwe.
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“If there is anybody who has caused untold pain and suffering to the people of Zimbabwe it's been the way Tagwirei has corrupted the state, used gullible individuals to divert state resources into his personal pocket and he must not think we will allow this to go unpunished.”
In March this year, Zanu PF Harare province recommended Tagwirei to be co-opted into the party’s central committee, marking the entry of the businessman into politics.
Since then, he has not looked back, with his eyes firmly set on the politburo.
He has been crisscrossing the country addressing meetings, chanting Zanu PF slogans calling for the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term limit to 2030.
Mnangagwa has repeatedly said in public that he is a constitutionalist, and will step aside when his term of office expires in 2028.
Tagwirei has also addressed two meetings dubbed the land tenure leadership success series, the first in Masvingo and second in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
The businessman has been accused by the United States of causing the impoverishment of Zimbabwe by triggering currency fluctuations while cashing out his corruptly obtained treasury bills.
“He is dabbling in high stakes games which he has no knowledge of. This game (politics) is too much for him,” Kasukuwere said.
“We thought he was going to be addressing the students on a very important subject. Again, it was a subject which is way beyond him, the land question.
“The land issue has meant a lot of pain and suffering and must be handled in a much more respectable manner...”
Biti also reacted to Tagwirei’s claims that he was corrupt.
“We stand firm on principle and on deep rooted values that have defined us for decades,” he posted on X.
“We will never allow charlatans and crooks to take over the State, to emasculate the Constitution or to buy their way into office. Criminals must know that one day soon Zim will rise and crooks will fall.”
Biti is representing war veterans challenging the land tenure commission led by Tagwirei, who is also the Sakunda proprietor.
