Biti Claims Tagwirei Funded Opposition in 2018 and 2023
HARARE — Former Finance Minister and ex-MDC Vice President Tendai Biti has claimed that businessman and ZANU PF Senator Kudakwashe Tagwirei funded the MDC Alliance in 2018 and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in 2023.
Biti made the allegation on X in response to a user, Mutape wekwaZamtshiya, who asked: “So who funded MDC-A in 2018 and the fractured CCC in 2023?”
Biti replied in one word: “Tagwirei.”
The claim immediately triggered backlash from within the opposition.
Former secretary of both MDC formations and Kuwadzana East legislator Charlton Hwende dismissed the allegation as false and damaging to the opposition.
“If some opposition leaders have a problem with President Nelson Chamisa, they must deal with him without trying to tarnish the opposition in general. It is not correct that in 2018 and 2023 the opposition was funded by ZANU PF Senator Kudakwashe Tagwirei,” Hwende posted on X.
Hwende gave a breakdown of opposition funding, saying 70 percent of funding comes from sacrifices of ordinary members who use their money to fund and participate in campaigns at local level, including 50,000 election agent volunteers who forgo payment to safeguard ballots and feed themselves.
Twenty percent, he said, comes from candidates who fund their own campaigns from posters to rallies, and 10 percent comes from brave Zimbabweans locally and in the diaspora.
But some observers say Hwende’s defence is hard to believe given his own recent attacks on Chamisa.
A few months ago, Hwende accused former leader Nelson Chamisa of having been compromised but is now appearing to be vehemently defending him.“
Hwende is known for saying the opposition yakanwira (sold out) but is now singing glory hallelujah to the opposition,” said a senior opposition leader who did not want to be named.
Biti, who was Finance Minister in the Government of National Unity and a senior figure in the MDC and later CCC, did not provide evidence for his claim.
Tagwirei, who is under United States sanctions and was recently sworn in as Senator and appointed Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion, has not responded to the allegations.
The exchange comes amid continued infighting among former CCC leaders over the collapse of the party after the 2023 elections some of who claim Chamisa is working with the ruling party to snuffle the opposition.