Veteran media entrepreneur Trevor Ncube has issued a stark warning about what he sees as the growing concentration of political and economic power in Zimbabwe, drawing comparisons between businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s rise and the influence once wielded by the Gupta family in South Africa.
Ncube, the founder and chairman of Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), made the remarks in a lengthy commentary published on his Substack platform and shared excerpts on X, where he argued that a series of recent developments point to a broader struggle over Zimbabwe’s political future.
Referencing the widely publicised wedding of Tagwirei’s son, reportedly costing around US$20 million, Ncube suggested the event represented more than a lavish family celebration.
“The Guptas’ Sun City wedding accidentally exposed their capture of South Africa. Tagwirei’s $20 million wedding deliberately displayed his of Zimbabwe,” Ncube wrote.
Ncube revealed that he had previously served alongside Tagwirei on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), claiming it became apparent during their time together that the businessman enjoyed greater access to the President than the council itself.
The veteran publisher said attention should not be focused solely on a recently leaked audio recording in which a voice purportedly claims political influence and presidential ambitions.
Instead, he argued that the more important question is whether the claims align with publicly documented events and developments.
Ncube pointed to a range of issues he believes demonstrate Tagwirei’s growing influence, including reported interests in CBZ Holdings, Sakunda Holdings’ involvement in the Command Agriculture programme, the controversial acquisition of Kuvimba Mining House, his appointment to oversee aspects of Zimbabwe’s land tenure reforms and his recent co-option into ZANU PF’s Central Committee.
He also cited Tagwirei’s proximity to senior political leaders, including his presence during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to President Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm in May.
According to Ncube, these developments form a broader pattern that raises concerns about the relationship between wealth, political influence and state power in Zimbabwe. He stressed that his observations do not depend on the authenticity of the leaked audio recording.
“The leaked audio — the grandiose claim: ‘I am the next president’ — cannot be authenticated. But authenticity is the wrong test. The right test is whether the claims map onto documented behaviour,” he wrote.
Central to Ncube’s argument is Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), which he described as the key issue facing Zimbabwe.
He argued that the proposed constitutional changes would transfer significant influence over presidential succession from ordinary voters to political elites operating within Parliament and party structures.
Ncube suggested that such changes could benefit individuals who possess substantial political influence but lack a nationwide electoral constituency.
“The electorate is the last institution standing between a businessman and a captured presidency,” Ncube warned.
Drawing parallels with South Africa’s state capture scandal, Ncube argued that Zimbabwe risks entrenching a system where political power, wealth and patronage become increasingly intertwined.
He contended that while the Gupta family’s influence was eventually exposed through media investigations and the Zondo Commission, Zimbabwe faces the danger of institutionalising similar dynamics through constitutional changes.
Ncube concluded by calling for greater transparency around the controversial US$1.6 billion Kuvimba transaction, resistance to CAB3 through democratic means and renewed efforts to protect citizens’ right to choose their leaders directly.
He framed the debate as a defining test of whether political authority in Zimbabwe remains rooted in the electorate or shifts increasingly towards wealthy and politically connected individuals.
Mnangagwa’s government is facing growing criticism over proposed constitutional reforms that opponents say are designed to keep the ruling party in power beyond current legal limits.
The proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3, introduced by the ruling ZANU-PF, seeks to make sweeping changes to the country’s political system.
Among the most controversial proposals is an increase in presidential and parliamentary terms from five years to seven years. The bill would also remove direct presidential elections, replacing them with a system in which the president is elected by Parliament.
The amendment further proposes postponing the next parliamentary elections from 2028 to 2030, effectively extending the tenure of current office holders.
Government officials argue that the reforms are necessary to promote political stability and ensure continuity in the implementation of long-term national development programmes.
According to the administration, longer terms would allow leaders sufficient time to complete major projects and policy initiatives without disruption from frequent election cycles.
Critics, however, contend that the proposed changes would weaken democratic accountability, reduce citizens’ direct role in choosing their leaders and undermine constitutional safeguards intended to prevent the concentration of power.
Opposition figures and civil society groups have accused the government of attempting to entrench its hold on power under the guise of political stability.
The proposed amendments are expected to spark intense political debate as they move through the legislative process, with supporters and opponents divided over their implications for Zimbabwe’s democratic future.
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