The Shadow Sovereigns: Zimbabwe’s Corrupt Business Elite and the Strangling of Democratic Aspirations.

By Youngerson Matete

Since the military coup in November 2017 that ousted long-time ruler Robert Mugabe and brought Emmerson Mnangagwa to power, Zimbabwe has witnessed the rapid rise of a new black business elite. This elite has enriched itself through corrupt state tenders, patronage networks, and the capture of key economic sectors. This class has amassed vast illicit wealth not through innovation or entrepreneurship, but by parasitically extracting from the state through its network with the ruling elite. Operating in the shadows of formal governance, they have become an alternate power center -shadow sovereigns - who now rival the military in influence and pose an existential threat to Zimbabwe’s democratic future. Far from being passive beneficiaries of state largesse, this group has actively entrenched itself within the ruling ZANU-PF party and government structures. 

Owing to each other’s survival the ruling party ZANU-PF and this new business elite have all the incentives to suppress any threat to their survival and more so the new oligarchs have more incentives to preserve the hands that keep giving them from losing power. Their influence poses a significant threat to democratic consolidation, as they distort governance, undermine accountability, and perpetuate kleptocratic rule. This blog explores how Zimbabwe’s corrupt business elites have emerged as a dominant force, capturing state institutions and manipulating political processes to serve their economic interests. 

The Rise of the Black Business Elite in Post-Coup Zimbabwe. 

The 2017 coup was framed as a corrective measure against Mugabe’s misrule, with promises of economic reform and democratic renewal. However the transition was less about democratization and more about elite realignment within ZANU-PF. The coup facilitated the rise of a new business class closely tied to the military and political elites, who have now quickly positioned themselves as more than key economic players but also political players if not King makers.  

This group, often referred to as the "new oligarchs" , has thrived on state contracts, particularly in sectors like mining, agriculture, and infrastructure as well as manipulating the Zimbabwean currency on the auction market. Companies linked to these elites- in most cases these companies do not even exist but have secured lucrative tenders without competitive bidding, often through opaque procurement processes. 

State Capture and the Business-Politics Nexus.

State capture is a concept that refers to a situation where private actors systematically influence state institutions to shape policies and laws in their favor. In Zimbabwe, the new business elite has effectively captured key state institutions, including parastatals, ministries, and procurement agencies. This phenomenon can be traced as far back to before independence, where private actors had a huge influence on the affairs of the state. Post independence,  Zimbabwe developed a political aristocracy, where proximity to power not enterprise dictates accumulation. 

Corruption in Public Procurement.

Public procurement has been a major avenue for elite accumulation. Research by Transparency International Zimbabwe (2022) reveals that over 60% of government contracts between 2018 and 2022 were awarded without due process, benefiting a small circle of politically connected entrepreneurs. These individuals, often with no prior business experience, have suddenly amassed wealth through dubious deals, for example, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has been implicated in multiple scandals involving inflated contracts awarded to shadowy companies (ZACC Report, 2021). Similarly, the mining sector, particularly gold and diamond extraction, has been dominated by elites who exploit political connections to evade regulations and taxes.  

At the heart of this elite’s rise is systematic abuse of the public procurement system. Billions of dollars meant for essential services – fuel, food, healthcare, infrastructure, mining, and technology – have been siphoned through corrupt contracts awarded without competition or oversight. Individuals like Kuda Tagwirei, often described as Mnangagwa’s right-hand man, epitomizes state capture. His Sakunda Holdings empire, built on murky government contracts, operates across fuel, agriculture (notably the scandal-ridden Command Agriculture program), finance, mining, and construction. Sanctioned by the US and UK for corruption, Tagwirei effectively runs a parallel state, wielding more influence than many elected officials. His dominance mirrors Mushtaq H. Khan’s concept of “rentier capitalism,” where wealth stems from capturing state rents rather than productive investment.

Wicknell Chivhayo exemplifies the "shelf company" tenderpreneur. His firm, Intratrek Zimbabwe, controversially secured a $200 million ZPC solar power contract, which collapsed amid accusations of inflated costs and prepayment without delivery. He later clinched a $40 million ZEC contract to supply biometric voter registration kits ahead of the 2023 elections – raising serious questions about electoral integrity. Chivhayo flaunts his political connections in leaked audio recordings, perfectly illustrating Alex de Waal’s “political marketplace,” where state access is traded for loyalty and cash.

Scott Sakupwanya, ZANU-PF MP and owner of Better Brands Jewellery, was implicated in Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia documentary for alleged gold smuggling and money laundering involving senior RBZ officials. His election to Parliament highlights how illicit wealth is now used to buy political office, embedding economic predators directly into legislative bodies. As Ibbo Mandaza has argued, this reflects the rise of a “military-commercial complex” — a fusion of force, finance, and political power.

Delish Nguwaya and the Geo Pomona Waste Management scandal showcase elite impunity in municipal governance. Nguwaya’s firm won a 30-year, $22,000-per-day contract to manage Harare’s waste without competitive bidding. The result: uncollected garbage, drained city coffers, and crippled local services. His ability to impose such terms highlights how these elites bypass institutional checks to redirect public resources for private gain. It’s a textbook case of what Acemoglu and Robinson describe as extractive institutions: systems designed to enrich a few at the expense of national welfare. These individuals are just a few examples of a connected mafia running the state behind the scene. 

The Role of ZANU-PF in Facilitating Elite Corruption.

ZANU-PF has long relied on patronage to maintain power, but under Mnangagwa, the party has become even more intertwined with business interests. As Alexander and Chitofiri (2020) note, the ruling party no longer merely accommodates business elites; it is increasingly dependent on them for campaign financing and economic survival.  This symbiosis was evident in the 2023 elections, where reports indicated that businesspeople bankrolled ZANU-PF campaigns in exchange for state contracts. The blurring of lines between party, state, and business has created a governance crisis where policy decisions are driven by rent-seeking rather than public interest. 

These business elites are no longer just rent-seekers; they have captured the ruling party and parts of the state. Tagwirei, Chivhayo, and others bankroll ZANU-PF campaigns, donate vehicles, and influence decisions within Zanu-PF. Their associates sit on state boards and parastatal bodies, shaping procurement decisions and shielding scandals from scrutiny. Investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), Parliament, and civil society routinely stall when they implicate these individuals.

Their impunity is not accidental. It is structural. Alex Magaisa’s notion of a “vampire state” aptly captures this dynamic – a system where predatory elites extract national wealth without accountability. Al Jazeera exposés, Transparency International reports, and parliamentary hearings have revealed a deep web of corruption. Yet prosecutions are rare, and convictions virtually nonexistent.

The Business Elite as an Alternative Power Center

Traditionally, the military has been the dominant force behind Zimbabwe’s political dynamics, often acting as the ultimate arbiter in moments of political crisis. Its influence has historically been rooted in coercion, backed by a monopoly on violence and a legacy of liberation credentials. However, a new and arguably more insidious force is rising — a politically connected business elite that operates not through direct force, but through economic dominance, patronage networks, and strategic infiltration of state institutions. These actors—ranging from fuel moguls and gold smugglers to tenderpreneurs embedded in municipal contracts—exert growing influence over policy decisions, candidate selections, and public resource allocations. Their wealth is not a product of innovation or private sector efficiency, but of privileged access to state contracts, minerals, and financial systems.

Unlike the military, whose power often comes into sharp view during overt interventions such as coups, this elite functions quietly but pervasively, shaping governance outcomes through the manipulation of procurement systems, campaign financing, and backroom lobbying. They fund ruling party activities, control segments of the media, and place loyalists in key state agencies, effectively becoming an informal yet powerful branch of government. This creates a dual power structure within the state—where democratic institutions are hollowed out and repurposed to serve elite interests rather than the public good. In many ways, these business figures have become the new shadow sovereigns, wielding unchecked authority without formal accountability. Their rise marks a profound shift in Zimbabwe’s political economy—one that threatens to entrench a form of elite authoritarianism masked as economic empowerment.

Weakening State Institutions

The infiltration of politically connected business elites into the machinery of government has significantly weakened Zimbabwe’s state institutions. Entities such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Judiciary have been systematically captured and repurposed to serve private and political interests rather than the public good. These institutions, once intended to ensure democracy and justice, have been transformed into conduits for perpetuating the ruling party’s interest. Parastals which are mandated to serve the people are now vehicles for rent-seeking and patronage, contracts are awarded without transparency, funds are misappropriated, and strategic planning has been replaced by short-term profiteering. The result is chronic underperformance, loss-making operations, and widespread service delivery failures that affect millions of citizens.

This erosion of institutional integrity has profound implications for democracy. Effective democratic governance relies on autonomous, impartial, and competent institutions capable of implementing policies, regulating markets, and delivering essential services. When state agencies become extensions of elite networks, their accountability to the public vanishes. Oversight mechanisms break down, rule of law is selectively applied, and bureaucratic professionalism is replaced with political loyalty. The institutional weakening thus not only cripples state capacity but also hollows out the democratic state, leaving behind a façade of governance that masks deep authoritarian tendencies.

.

Implications for Democratic Breakthrough.

The emergence of this new corrupt business network represents a profound distortion of democratic governance. Unlike conventional corruption, which involves isolated acts of bribery or embezzlement, state capture is systemic and structural, involving the infiltration of state institutions, policymaking processes, and public resource flows by narrow elite interests. In Zimbabwe’s context, this has become the dominant mode of political economy, where a small, politically connected business elite—closely allied with the ruling ZANU-PF party and segments of the military—has gained disproportionate influence over the machinery of the state. The implications for democracy are deep and multifaceted, touching every aspect of the democratic process: from elections and citizen participation to institutional integrity, accountability, and civil liberties. I will elaborate on the implications below.

Erosion of Public Trust and Democratic Legitimacy

The new oligarchs undermine the very legitimacy of the democratic system through state capture. When citizens observe that public policies, budgets, and services are determined not by public need or electoral promises but by the private interests of politically connected individuals, their faith in democratic institutions erodes. The state ceases to be a neutral arbiter or a vehicle for collective development and instead becomes a predatory apparatus, enriching a few at the expense of the many. This disillusionment fuels voter apathy, particularly among youth and marginalized populations, who see little value in engaging in a political system rigged in favor of elites. The decline in voter turnout, reduced civic activism, and growing emigration among skilled citizens are symptoms of this democratic disenchantment.

 Distortion of Electoral Processes and Political Competition

Elections in a captured state are reduced to ritualistic exercises, stripped of meaningful competition. In Zimbabwe, politically connected business elites bankroll ruling party campaigns, donate vehicles, fund rallies, and flood constituencies with patronage in exchange for contracts and policy favors. This skews the playing field, marginalizing opposition parties that lack access to comparable resources. Additionally, state institutions such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which are constitutionally mandated to ensure free and fair elections, are compromised through elite influence. The awarding of tenders to companies like Intratrek Zimbabwe—closely tied to ZANU-PF—raises questions about electoral integrity and manipulation. This creates an unequal political terrain where incumbency is perpetually advantaged and electoral turnover becomes nearly impossible, undermining the principle of representative democracy.

Weakening of Oversight and Accountability Institutions

State capture debilitates institutions meant to check executive power and uphold the rule of law. In Zimbabwe, bodies such as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), Parliament, the Judiciary, and the Auditor-General’s Office often find their mandates curtailed by elite interference. Investigations into high-level corruption are routinely stalled, evidence is suppressed, and prosecutions are rare—particularly when the accused are linked to powerful figures such as Kuda Tagwirei or Wicknell Chivhayo. This culture of impunity signals that certain individuals are above the law, a direct assault on democratic accountability. Moreover, Parliament often becomes a rubber stamp, with captured MPs—some themselves beneficiaries of illicit wealth—serving elite interests rather than representing their constituents. This undermines the deliberative function of democracy, where laws and policies are supposed to emerge from open debate and oversight.

 Subversion of Policy-Making and National Development

In Zimbabwe, public policy is no longer driven by developmental imperatives but by the rent-seeking behavior of elite actors. Economic decisions—from mining concessions to infrastructure development—are guided by who stands to profit, not what benefits the public. For instance, the Command Agriculture program and the Pomona waste management contract illustrate how policies and deals are designed primarily for elite extraction rather than public service delivery. As a result, public resources are misallocated, and developmental priorities are distorted. This leads to persistent poverty, underinvestment in social services, and worsening inequality—all of which erode the material conditions necessary for a vibrant and participatory democracy. As Amartya Sen argues, democracy thrives when citizens are empowered, healthy, and economically secure—conditions that are fundamentally incompatible with elite plunder.

Manipulation of the Media and Civil Society Space

Another insidious implication of the current state of Zimbabwe is the manipulation of the public sphere. Elites use their resources to co-opt or silence independent media, sponsor disinformation campaigns, and intimidate investigative journalists and whistleblowers. In Zimbabwe, media houses have been bought or influenced by business moguls aligned with the regime, muting critical voices and creating echo chambers that justify elite predation under the guise of nationalism or black empowerment. Civil society organizations that expose corruption or advocate for reform are harassed, deregistered through draconian laws, or delegitimized. This shrinking civic space undermines the ability of citizens to organize, hold power to account, and participate meaningfully in public discourse—all of which are essential components of a healthy democracy.

Normalization of Corruption and Moral Decay

Zimbabweans over time have  normalized corruption, making it a standard rather than an exception. When those implicated in large-scale graft are celebrated, elected to public office, or granted public honors, a dangerous precedent has been  set and accepted  that success in Zimbabwe depends not on innovation or service but on political connections and criminality. This has eroded social cohesion and undermines the ethical foundations of democracy. Citizens have begun to emulate or tolerate corrupt behavior, weakening the collective commitment to public integrity, transparency, and fairness.

Elite Fragmentation and the Risk of Instability

Ironically, the consolidation of power by a few elites can also breed instability. As state resources become increasingly scarce, intra-elite competition intensifies. Factional battles within ZANU-PF, often driven by rival business interests, will plunge the ruling party—and by extension the country—into paralysis or conflict. This elite fragmentation, when not resolved through democratic mechanisms, can lead to violent confrontations, institutional sabotage, or unconstitutional transitions. It also weakens the state's capacity to govern, creating policy incoherence and administrative dysfunction—further alienating citizens from the democratic process.

In conclusion, Zimbabwe’s post-coup trajectory has not led to renewal but to the consolidation of a parasitic oligarchy. Figures like Kuda Tagwirei, Wicknell Chivhayo, Scott Sakupwanya, and Delish Nguwaya now operate as shadow sovereigns, entrenched in the heart of the state, siphoning national wealth, and extinguishing the possibility of democratic breakthrough. Their continued impunity signals not just corruption but a total subversion of the democratic project.

Whether Zimbabwe can reclaim its future depends on the ability to dismantle these networks of illicit power. The fate of these shadow sovereigns – whether they are held to account or continue to rule from the shadows – will ultimately determine the country’s democratic destiny.

Youngerson Matete is a multi-award-winning pro-democracy and Human Rights activist, a Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni, and a student of human rights and Politics. He is the founder of Project Vote 263, African Network For Democracy, National Constitutional Movement, and The School of Governance and Center For Democracy. He writes in his own capacity. His views doesn't represent any organization.

Cell: +263 773 622 044

Email:youngmatete0@gmail.com/ director@projectvote263.org.zw