Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
THE Presidential Empowerment Programme, suspended in Manicaland, is set to resume under a new structure designed to track pledges and monitor the use of disbursed funds, ensuring they reach intended beneficiaries in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ZANU PF solidarity rally for Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 at Mutare Teachers’ College last Sunday, Presidential Special Advisor on Investment and ZANU PF Central Committee member, Cde Paul Tungwarara, said the programme will continue with a formal follow-up mechanism and investigative audits to expose fund abusers.
He warned that without strict oversight, pledges risk disappearing before reaching communities.
“We are not launching a second phase, but continuing the empowerment programme under a new structure. The party wanted proper systems in place to track where the money goes and to follow up on those who pledged funds. This ensures promises are honoured and communities are truly empowered. Previously, empowerment collapsed because resources never reached the beneficiaries. This time, the structure will guarantee delivery to the grassroots,” said Cde Paul Tungwarara, vowing that Manicaland’s minerals must benefit its people.
He added: “The vision for Manicaland is to see everyone empowered by the President. We have the resources, and we must ensure they benefit local communities. Too often, miners extract gold and other minerals and leave, while villagers get nothing. That must stop. If we have gold, people in those areas must share in its benefits.”
Cde Tungwarara also declared full provincial backing for Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 (CAB3), now headed to Parliament.
“I am very happy that Manicaland supports the Bill. No one is against it. Public consultations were done, and from my assessment, parliamentary debate will not be a problem. CAB3 is not just for ZANU PF or the President—it is for everyone in the institutional structure. MPs and councillors, even from the opposition, stand to benefit because there will be no elections in 2028. This ensures stability and accelerates development. Anyone serious about progress should support this Bill. It is not about extending President Mnangagwa’s term to 2030, but about sustaining tangible development that everyone can see.”
ZANU PF treasurer-general, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, hailed the strong turnout at CAB3 public hearings in Manicaland, saying parliamentarians are expected to “score a winning goal as there is no goalkeeper at the gate.”
He explained that the Bill seeks to extend presidential, parliamentary, and local authority terms to 2030.
“A hunter hunts with his own dogs, and the President, together with the current Parliament and local authorities, will remain until 2030, and what this means is there are no elections in 2028. During the 2023 elections, Government spent nearly US$200 million, and I will not mention how much the ruling party spent. All that money will now be saved and used elsewhere to develop the country,” said Cde Chinamasa, adding that Zimbabweans will still exercise their right to vote for MPs, who would in turn elect the President. Cde Chinamasa said ZANU PF is computerising its cell membership to establish an exact database and unlock annual subscriptions for the party.
“If we computerise cell membership, we will be able to know our exact database, and can make money. At the moment the party is surviving on donations from businessmen like Cdes Paul Tungwarara, Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Wicknell Chivhayo as well as Cdes Scott Sakupwanya, and Leonard Mukumba, who both fortunately hail from Manicaland. I sat down with these businessmen and agreed that they channel their donations to the party, and be issued with receipts. When the money comes through my office, it will require three signatures to withdraw, to ensure transparency.
“An audit will also be carried out on previous empowerment funds to assess how the funds were used, and this will help us see who is faithful or not. The audit will also include all pledges so that the party and the President’s name are not brought into disrepute through unfulfilled promises,” he said.
ZANU PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza, said the party is united, and thanked the women, youth, and war veterans’ leagues for canvassing support for CAB3.
He also appealed for the completion of the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund in the three constituencies in Mutare District, which were on the verge of benefiting when the fund was abruptly stopped pending fine-tuning of its distribution structure.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, chronicled a number of projects helping to grow the economy and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Minister Mugadza said the signature project is the Christmas Pass Bypass Road, which will have two interchanges at its respective ends, warranting extension of the Presidential term to 2030.
He said Government is in the process of constructing Kondo Dam at the confluence of the Save and Mucheke rivers, which will be bigger than Tugwi Mukosi Dam in Masvingo.
Secretary for War Veterans in the Politburo, Cde Douglas Mahiya, thanked President Mnangagwa for empowering war veterans, and appealed to him to heed the people’s wishes by signing the Bill once approved by Parliament.
Moffat Mungazi