HARARE – The wife of Presidential Guard Commander Brigadier General Fidelis Mhonda was the main co-ordinator of Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s event on land tenure held in Masvingo on Friday, it has emerged.

Nyasha Mhonda appeared at the event wearing a beret written ED – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s initials.

A source said: “She was the main organiser of the event, responsible for sending out invites and other logistics.”

The event was widely seen as the launch of Tagwirei’s ambitious bid to succeed Mnangagwa, allegedly with the Zanu PF leader’s backing.

Tagwirei has been linked to a plot to succeed Mnangagwa by stopping his deputy Constantino Chiwenga from succeeding him. He has not publicly spoken about his political intentions.

The businessman’s entry into politics was announced in March when Zanu PF’s provincial executives in Masvingo and Harare called for his co-option into the central committee.

Since then, Tagwirei has not looked back, allegedly using a war-chest from questionable government contracts to buy his way to the presidency.

Outspoken war veteran Blessed Runesu Geza recently claimed that Tagwirei was paying General Mhonda US$25,000 every month for his protection. His wife’s appearance at the event will fuel speculation about his role in Zanu PF’s succession politics.

The Masvingo youth programme, seen as the beginning of a journey to introduce and endear himself with various provinces.

The meeting was dubbed the “Land Tenure Implementation Leadership Success Series Programme”, an initiative Tagwirei said would be rolled out countrywide.

It is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, led by the minister Tatenda Mavetera.

The launch was attended by Masvingo minister Ezra Chadzamira, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner Stanley Kondongwe, Zanu PF Masvingo chairman Rabison Mavhenyengwa and his deputy, Trust Mugabe, among others.

Tagwirei described the programme under which the government plans to give resettled farmers title deeds as a bold step towards youth empowerment through agricultural productivity and land utilisation.

He said Zimbabwe’s economic future lies in unlocking the potential of its young people, particularly in the land and natural resource sectors.

According to Tagwirei, there was a need to bring women into land reform decision-making structures and promote innovation and sustainability in land use.

Tagwirei is leader of the recently formed Land Tenure Implementation Committee which has been criticised by the war veterans as an attempt to reverse the land reform programme.

War veterans, led by Joseph Chinguwa, have since made a Constitutional Court application challenging the programme, arguing that farmers will be forced to buy the land from the government to obtain the promised title deeds.

Best Zinyama, a local youth activist and agricultural student, said the programme lacks transparency and risks becoming a vehicle for political patronage.

“It’s deeply troubling that this launch was attended only by political figures and loyalists. Where are the voices of the young people who are supposed to benefit from this? How are land allocations going to be handled? Who will monitor the process?” he questioned.

Tagwirei insisted that the goal is to build a new generation of land-conscious leaders who can contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.