By Nigel Pfunde
Harare– BUSINESSMAN and Special Presidential Investment Adviser Paul (Tempter) Tungwarara is being linked by political and business sources to the inevitable imminent reconstruction of the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry Complex following the latest blaze that ripped through the furniture hub on Sunday ,Express Mail Zim has learnt .
This publication understands that the reconstruction will be based on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis .
“Tungwarara was born in Buhera but rented a small room in Glen View and he has passion for the neighbourhood which made him and so we hear he is eyeing the deal to reconstruct the Glen View complex in a way that guards against fire hazards,” said a source.
“He rose from humble beginnings where he stayed in a one roomed house in Glen View 3 at the house which is the main control centre of solar project.He then scooped a precious mineral in his maternal grandparents ‘s field and he was the only sharp one and he took advantage.
“When he went to UAE he then made links with bigwigs like that billionaire Mulk and he is very sharp and calculative .
“His business acumen is ahead and you can’t do anything to him ,” said our source.
Some sources said the awkward prevalence of the fires might mean contenders for the possible reconstruction contract might be architects of the ‘arson’.
While no official tender award has been announced, the speculation around Tungwarara stems from his proximity to ongoing projects in Glen View notably the Presidential Rooftop Solar project led through a subsidiary of his Prevail Group and his recent elevation as a presidential adviser roles that position him among likely contenders for the BOT partnership.
Tungwarara has drawn headlines in recent years for high-profile government projects as well as controversy over past business dealings which has vehemently denied.
The urgency intensified of a possible renovation comes after a second fire in less than a month hit the complex on August 17 following the July 27 blaze that left scores of traders counting heavy losses.
Local officials initially estimated July’s damages at about US$100 000 with investigators and city officials citing the site’s flammable materials, congestion, unsafe wiring and human error as recurring risk factors.
Government has ordered an upgraded market with proper structures, electricity, sanitation and multi-storey capacity to rise on the site running in tandem with the second phase of the Mbare Market reconstruction.
Ironically , the Mbare Market tender was awarded to Obey Chimuka who is in the same business circles with Tungwarara in terms of grabbing mega tenders.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said ministries are moving to “identify investors” willing to partner government on a BOT model with work scheduled to start in September 2025.
The Glen View complex has suffered repeated disasters over the past decade.
The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) labelled the fires as an “epidemic.”
The fires have become “normal,” often peaking in September and October.
On July 27 2025
a major fire destroyed dozens of stalls with early losses estimated at nearly US$100,000, before another blaze struck on August 17,
2025,
marking the 11th or more recorded incident at the site.
Tungwarara also won the tender for the precast wall construction at State House and the latest kombi accident also opens another deal for him to refurbish.
Tungwarara could not be reached for comment at the time of writing as his mobile number was not available amid reports that he was compelled to change it following inundated calls that possibly derailed his noble mandate.
