By Nigel Pfunde
HARARE- Special Presidential Advisor Dr Paul Tungwarara has dismissed speculation that he harbours presidential ambitions, declaring his unwavering loyalty to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and stating that he would decline the presidency even if it were offered to him.
Dr Tungwarara made the remarks at the launch of the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund in Zimunya-Marange, where US$25 000 was disbursed to each of the three Mutare constituencies namely Mutare North, Mutare South and Mutare West to support grassroots economic projects.
Addressing party officials and community leaders, Dr Tungwarara said President Mnangagwa’s leadership was divinely ordained and that authority to lead the nation was determined by God rather than wealth or political influence.
“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 amidst cheers from party functionaries.
He 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 weight 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 proposed 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 latest recommendation replaces an earlier submission that had been queried by the National Commissariat Department over alleged procedural irregularities.
Addressing party members in Manicaland, Amb Mutsvangwa said the matter was now before the party’s highest decision-making organ.
“I am the spokesperson of the party, as well as the spokesman of the President of the party.
“I want your heart, 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 the move, but as the party spokesperson, I approached the party leader together with the Secretary General, telling him that there were some who were grumbling over this dynamic young man. I said to the President, do not put me in 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, so I cannot speak against Manicaland having done the same with Harare.
“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 and 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 is raising the President’s flag so high. As a party leader who is there to promote my boss, the President, I stand by anyone who promotes the President.”
