By Staff Reporter
Bulawayo – Controversial businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei sparked widespread outrage on Wednesday after declaring that Zimbabweans who have not secured government tenders are “foolish” – effectively insulting the vast majority of the population.
Speaking during an address at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo, Tagwirei delivered a combative defence of his controversial business dealings, dismissing criticism of his reputation as a “tenderpreneur,” a term commonly used to describe politically connected individuals who benefit from state contracts through opaque or corrupt means.
“If you’re not a tenderpreneur, you’re foolish,” he told the audience.
“The biggest buyer or seller in this country is government, so if you don’t want to get your tender from the biggest buyer and biggest seller, where are you going to get your business from?
“Anyone who tells you that you must not get tenders is foolish, you must actually strive to get a tender from government,” Tagwirei added.
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from across Zimbabwean society, with observers accusing the Sakunda Holdings founder of glorifying a deeply flawed system of elite patronage.
Tagwirei has received billions in state contracts over the years, most notably for the Command Agriculture programme, which was linked to the collapse of the local currency and later drew international sanctions.
The United States Department of the Treasury accused Tagwirei of using his connections to senior Zimbabwean government officials to secure lucrative contracts and access to foreign currency.
“Tagwirei has utilised his relationships with high-level Zimbabwean officials to gain state contracts and receive favoured access to hard currency,” it said in a statement.
“In turn, Tagwirei has provided high-priced items, such as expensive cars, to senior-level Zimbabwean government officials.”
The U.S. government further noted that since the ousting of Robert Mugabe in 2017, Tagwirei has leveraged “opaque business dealings” and his ongoing ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to dramatically expand his business empire.
His comments have been interpreted as tone-deaf and elitist, particularly given Zimbabwe’s struggling economy and widespread unemployment.
Economist Tinashe Murapata criticised Tagwirei’s remarks accusing him of benefiting from public funds without transparency while insulting the very citizens who financed his deals.
“Tagwirei’s comments on tenderpreneurship miss the nuance and intelligence of a national leader he is shaping himself to be.
“Command Agriculture never went to tender.
“The treasury bills he was given were never meant to be traded — in effect, it was pension funds and depositors’ money that funded Command Agriculture, savings from the same people he now calls foolish,” he said.
Murapata added: “Savings which were lost to hyperinflation caused by the government. I don’t understand political leadership that mocks distance from political office. By its very nature and definition, proximity and access to political office is limited to a few. Yet it is ordinary business people and traders without political access who drive the economy.”
Entrepreneur Kuda Musasiwa also criticised the current tender system, arguing that that the issue lies not with tenders themselves, but with a rigged system that favours shadowy companies lacking credibility or proper infrastructure.
“Tenders are not the problem. An equitable system that allows all businesses to access tenders would be the answer to this.
‘Currently, tenders go to shelved companies with hotel rooms as addresses,” said Musasiwa.
Tagwirei’s business empire spans a wide array of sectors, including agriculture, energy, health, and infrastructure.
His appointment to Zanu PF’s central committee has only intensified speculation that he is eyeing higher office, with Wednesday’s remarks further fuelling concern about his leadership aspirations.
