Tagwirei’s appointment to Cabinet unchristian and built on political skulduggery – Mpofu

Advocate Thabani Mpofu has criticised the appointment of Kudakwashe Tagwirei as Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion, describing it as stained by political skulduggery and contrary to Christian values.

Tagwirei took the oath of office before President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare on Monday, 12 October.

Mpofu, who is also a member of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, said his intervention was prompted by comments last week from former opposition MP Willard Madzimbamuto, an SDA member who was recalled through a process allegedly involving Tagwirei and which eventually led to a Constitutional Court case.

Madzimbamuto had warned against celebrating an appointment he described as tainted.

According to Mpofu, Madzimbamuto sees himself as a victim of Tagwirei’s anti-people and pro-corruption politics.

“He is. What many may not know is that Hon. Mutasa, also an SDA member, is another victim of these recalls carried out at the same time and to achieve a diabolical purpose,” Mpofu said.

He said the record was plain, that in 2023 Tagwirei targeted two young opposition parliamentarians from his own church.

“Their removal was driven by malice, defied the expressed will of the people and served selfish interests. Yet some of the church members said nothing. We heard the silence,” Mpofu said.

Mpofu said he agreed with Madzimbamuto that Tagwirei’s appointment rests on a campaign against his own “brothers”, who are now expected to applaud his progress.

“I understand their anger, and why they find it contradictory, indeed, indefensible that certain fellow believers should celebrate his call to public office founded on nothing but the violence he administered to their interests,” he said. “What is worse is that this taint is barely being discussed by those people. In fact, discussing it is taboo as it shows envy.”

Mpofu further claimed that Tagwirei’s politics is rejected within ZANU PF itself, noting that one of the two Vice Presidents did not attend his swearing-in ceremony.

“His own Vice President regards him as a political bottom feeder. I do not disagree with his Vice President but I’m not bold enough to make the point,” he said.

“In other words, Tagwirei’s brand of politics is rejected on both sides: by his opponents and by people within his own party. He is odious to all save those directly benefiting from his largesse. He is even odious to his church, whose hand he is trying to force in order that he may have a primary political constituency.”

Mpofu said he was disturbed by Tagwirei’s conduct, arguing that one cannot claim the mantle of Christianity while practising politics that people across the divide find detestable.

“There’s, at a certain stage, a universally accepted wrong. To my mind, Tagwirei embodies that wrong,” he said.

Mpofu said he does not stand in the middle and does not wish to conceal what some may view as his bias.

“I have taken positions on what is happening in this country, and I speak from that perspective although I do so honestly. I disapprove of Tagwirei’s appointment and, more especially, of the process that brought it about,” he said.

He said he was not blind to the possibility that the appointment may signal the end of Tagwirei’s political career.

“In fact, I know it will. But I will not dwell on that now,” he said.

Mpofu also questioned the decision to appoint as Investments Minister someone who is under economic sanctions, saying in football terms it is “like picking a one-legged player as your main striker”.

He rejected claims by some religious people, including some in his own church, who have treated the appointment as proof of divine favour.

“I regard such people as scoundrels and I call them out for what they are. The body of Christ does not celebrate political debauchery,” he said.