By James Gwati–President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top ally, Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka, has clashed with the military elite over control of the tobacco industry.
The Tobacco industry is a key foreign currency source that bankrolls both the junta and Zanu PF’s entrenched election-rigging machinery.
The Zimbabwean military, which controls vast swathes of the economy, including the mining and agricultural sectors, has long used these industries to finance its operations, sustain its political dominance, and ensure Zanu PF remains in power.
This dynamic has been particularly evident since the looting of the Chiadzwa diamond fields, which former President Robert Mugabe admitted before his death had cost the country a staggering US$15 billion in lost revenue.
The diamonds, pillaged under military oversight, enriched top generals and funded the shadowy operations that have kept Zimbabwe under Zanu PF rule since 1980.
The control of Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector has now become another critical battlefield for the ruling elite. Tobacco is one of Zimbabwe’s most significant foreign currency earners, bringing in over US$1 billion annually.
The junta, which has entrenched itself in key economic sectors to fund its activities, sees the industry as an essential lifeline, particularly in an economy battered by sanctions and mismanagement.
To maintain a firm grip on these sectors, the military strategically appoints loyalists to top positions within state institutions that regulate agriculture, mining, and trade.
This patronage network ensures that proceeds from key industries are siphoned off to sustain Zanu PF’s rule and finance clandestine operations, including election rigging, intelligence operations, and the suppression of dissent.
Lieutenant General (retired) Engelbert Rugeje, a key ally of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and a board member of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), has openly accused Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka of obstructing the appointment of a permanent CEO for the board.
The delay, Rugeje argues, has created instability within the tobacco industry and allowed external players, including powerful political and business interests, to manipulate the sector for their own benefit.
Testifying before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Rugeje expressed frustration at Masuka’s interference:
“The absence of a substantive CEO has caused significant toxicity. But we thought, as a committee that oversees our industry, you could assist in resolving this issue. The situation is far from ideal—there are numerous challenges. Some of the issues being raised are directly related to the absence of a permanent CEO. If we had one, many of these problems would be alleviated. We are handicapped as a board without leadership.”
He added:
“There are vested interests, including politicians, businesspeople, and traders, who want to know what is happening at TIMB. If we do not resolve the CEO issue soon, the ‘elephant in the room’ will continue to linger.”
Masuka, a longtime Mnangagwa confidant, previously served as one of his farm managers before being plucked from the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show Society to head the Agriculture Ministry following the mysterious death of then-minister Perrance Shiri during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His appointment was seen as a strategic move by Mnangagwa to consolidate control over key economic sectors and sideline military-aligned figures like Rugeje.
Rugeje, a decorated soldier and a key figure in the 2017 coup that ousted Mugabe, has long been at odds with Mnangagwa’s faction.
Though he played a pivotal role in the military takeover, he was swiftly retired from the army and appointed Zanu PF’s National Political Commissar, a position he held briefly before Mnangagwa removed him, fearing he could emerge as a threat.
Since then, Rugeje has survived several assassination attempts, a sign of the high-stakes power struggles within Zanu PF.
The ongoing battle over TIMB reflects the broader struggle for control of Zimbabwe’s economic resources, which have historically been used to fund election rigging and sustain the party’s stranglehold on power.
Following the Chiadzwa diamond heist, where billions were siphoned away under military supervision, the junta has expanded its grip to include lithium mining, gold smuggling, and the monopolization of agricultural cash crops like tobacco.
These industries serve as financial lifelines for the ruling elite, ensuring they have the resources to manipulate elections, suppress opposition, and maintain control over state institutions.