By Nigel Pfunde
Murambinda- Special Presidential Advisor to the United Arab Emirates Dr Paul Tungwarara has on Thursday doused flames of lies and strongly dismissed what he described as “reckless and misleading” social media claims suggesting that the recent fire at his Buhera lodge was the work of political rivals.
Dr Tungwarara, who owns Elephant Lodge said the blaze was nothing more than a freak accident caused by an electrical fault and urged people to resist the temptation of dragging politics into everything.
“We have no evidence whatsoever to suggest that this was a political attack. Which political opponents were even at the lodge? The fire was an accident and nothing more,” he said.
The advisor said such incidents are common in the hospitality industry .
“I grew up seeing fires at farms. These things happen. In our line of business, accidents are normal and can occur at any time. It is irresponsible for people to jump to political conclusions without facts,” Dr Tungwarara said.
Parts of the lodge’s kitchen and main boardroom were damaged in the incident which investigators have already linked to an electrical fault.
Dr Tungwarara said the real tragedy was not the fire itself, but the way some commentators were quick to spin it into a political narrative.
“We cannot run the country by concluding that every unfortunate incident is an attack by political rivals. I don’t even know these so-called rivals people are talking about. This culture of politicising everything is toxic and unnecessary,” he said.
While the fire has since been contained Dr Tungwarara said it should serve as a lesson on fire safety rather than fuel for baseless conspiracy theories.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi also confirmed the incident:
“Also I can confirm that Elephant Lodge which is located in Murambinda, Manicaland, and which is owned by special adviser to the president Paul Tungwarara, was engulfed in fire on 27 September.”
He said investigators had already identified the cause.
“A forensic team was dispatched and investigation revealed that the fire was a result of an electrical fault.”
