Tungwarara Dismisses Presidential Ambitions, Affirms Loyalty to Mnangagwa

Presidential Special Advisor Dr Paul Tungwarara has dismissed speculation about any presidential ambitions, declaring his unwavering loyalty to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and insisting that he would reject the presidency even if it were offered to him.

Speaking at the launch of the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund in Zimunya–Marange, Dr Tungwarara said President Mnangagwa was divinely ordained to lead Zimbabwe and remains the country’s rightful leader.

The empowerment programme saw US$25 000 allocated to each of the three Mutare constituencies Mutare North, Mutare South and Mutare West to support grassroots economic projects.

Addressing party officials and community leaders, Dr Tungwarara said leadership was not determined by wealth or political influence, but by divine will.

“President Mnangagwa was born to rule and was put in that position by God himself.

Even if one day he were to surrender that position, I would reject it outright and tell him to go elsewhere. He is the best leader for this nation. My wealth as Tungwarara does not qualify me to rule this country.

The same applies to those who have made money through the party; that should not lead you to think you can remove him and easily replace him. It is impossible.

He is loved by God, and only God will remove him in due time,” declared Dr Tungwarara, amid cheers from party functionaries.

Dr Tungwarara also reflected on the 2017 political transition that ushered President Mnangagwa into office, saying it was guided by divine intervention.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa, threw his full support behind a resolution recommending Dr Tungwarara for co-option into the party’s Central Committee.

The recommendation follows a nomination by the Chipinge District Coordinating Committee (DCC), which put forward Dr Tungwarara as the preferred candidate to succeed Cde Dorothy Mabika.

Cde Mabika, who hails from Chipinge, stepped down from the Central Committee last year and was subsequently elected Manicaland Provincial Women’s League chairperson.

The current recommendation replaces an earlier one that had been queried by the National Commissariat Department over alleged procedural irregularities.

Addressing party members in Manicaland, Ambassador Mutsvangwa assured them that the matter was now before the party’s highest decision-making organ.
“I am the spokesperson of the party, as well as the spokesperson of the President of the party.

“I want your hearts, as the people of Manicaland, to remain calm. You held a PCC meeting to recommend a Central Committee member from Manicaland, and after that process, the chairman wrote a letter to the party leadership. The recommendation from Manicaland is already on the agenda of the ZANU PF Politburo,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
He added:

“We really appreciate and value what you have recommended. There was a period when concerns were raised over this move, but as the party spokesperson, I approached the party leader together with the Secretary-General, informing him that there were some who were grumbling over this dynamic young man.

“I said to the President, do not put me between a hard rock and a hard surface, having previously commented on a similar Central Committee recommendation in Harare, and now Manicaland has done the same. I cannot speak against Manicaland having done what Harare did.

“The President cautioned me that I only speak resolutions from the Politburo. That matter shall be presented before the Politburo as per procedure. We will discuss it in the Politburo in the same manner we discussed the other case. What comes from the Politburo is what matters most; the rest is hot air.

“I have worked with Dr Tungwarara for a long time. I know him as a businessman of rare acumen, but what he is doing exceptionally well is that, in everything he does, he raises the President’s flag very high. As a party leader whose duty is to promote my boss, the President, I stand by anyone who promotes the President.”