By Nigel Pfunde
HARARE- Public Relations consultant and activist Rutendo Matinyarare’s recent public claims regarding an alleged debt owed to him by business mogul and Zanu PF Central Committee member Dr Kuda Tagwirei has been dismissed as baseless by his former business partner, Advocate Simba Chitando, Express Mail Zim can report.
Matinyarare, who co-directed the now dormant Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement (ZASN) alongside South Africa based Adv Simba Chitando, has recently taken to social media alleging that Dr Tagwirei failed to pay for consultancy services.
However, Adv Chitando has rejected these assertions, confirming that Dr Tagwirei fully settled all legacy debts and legal fees associated with both the organization and Matinyarare.
“We contacted Dr Tagwirei and he agreed to meet us to tell our story after he had seen our work and the legal action we had taken against sanctions; he had also seen the demonstrations outside the embassy on social media. He flew us to Harare and paid all the expenses. He also covered all the expenses incurred as ZASN that were supposed to come out of our own pockets, and as ZASN, we are forever grateful to Dr Tagwirei,” Adv Chitando said in a video.
Furthermore, Adv Chitando revealed that Dr Tagwirei provided Matinyarare with a vehicle and financial support totaling millions of rand.
He emphasized that there was no standing contract and the businessman owes no outstanding debts to either ZASN or Matinyarare, saying that the civil organization is currently dormant and undergoing de-registration process in South Africa.
The dispute follows the recent controversy surrounding Matinyarare, who is the recipient of a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series and US$200 000 from Special Presidential Advisor Dr Paul Tungwarara.
Dr Tungwarara confirmed “pacification fee” and said it is intended to de-escalate Matinyarare’s public attacks against President Mnangagwa, a move that prompted a public apology from the activist to the First Family.
While Dr Tungwarara has maintained that his involvement is not aimed at targeting individuals within the party, observers have said that Matinyarare’s sudden resumption of hostilities toward Dr Tagwirei ironically coincides his recent windfall.
