Tinotenda Hove- Controversial tenderpreneur Kudakwashe Tagwirei attended Wednesday’s Central Committee meeting after being sworn in this week as Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion, triggering a wave of bootlicking from ZANU PF activists.

ZANU PF online activist Cleopas Mukungunugwa described Tagwirei as a smart gentleman, showering him with praise as he arrived at ZANU PF Headquarters.

“ONE OF THE SMARTEST ZANU PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS! The Honourable Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei, has arrived at ZANU PF Headquarters ahead of the Central Committee meeting,” Mukungunugwa wrote.

In a post dripping with sycophancy, Mukungunugwa celebrated Tagwirei’s dress code as a sign of loyalty to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Dressed in a stylish Chinese-collar jacket featuring the faces of President Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, Dr Tagwirei is proudly displaying his love, loyalty and respect for the man himself, ED! SMART IN THINKING, SMART IN DRESSING!” he said.

The praise comes as Zimbabweans struggle with a worsening economic crisis, collapsing local currency, and rampant corruption linked to politically connected tenderpreneurs.

Critics say Tagwirei’s elevation to a key economic ministry is a reward for bankrolling ZANU PF, not for competence, with his Chinese-collar jacket stunt seen as cheap political theatre to mask a legacy of opaque deals and sanctions.

While Mukungunugwa hails “smart thinking and smart dressing,” many Zimbabweans see only smart looting dressed up as loyalty.