Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
ZANU PF Manicaland is experiencing a surge in development, with Mutasa District set to break ground on a new two-storey party office today (Friday), valued at US$600 000, and the distribution of the Presidential Community Development Fund of US$25 000 to each of the three constituencies in the district.
ZANU PF national chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Defence Minister, is expected to preside over the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the construction of the offices – a significant investment in the party’s infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
This will be followed by another event in Chimanimani tomorrow (Saturday), where Presidential Advisor on Investment, Dr Paul Tungwarara, will disburse empowerment funds to the two constituencies in the district.
This comes after eight constituencies in Manicaland received US$25 000 each last week as part of the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund, aimed at supporting local party empowerment programmes.
The constituencies that benefited from the fund so far are Chipinge Central, Chipinge South, Mutema-Musikavanhu, Chipinge East, Buhera North, Buhera South, Buhera Central, and Makoni West, each receiving a revolving US$25 000 for empowerment initiatives.
ZANU PF Manicaland chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza on Wednesday confirmed the lined-up events.
“Two things will be happening in Mutasa – a ground-breaking ceremony for the local party office, and more than 100 000 bricks, cement, and other materials are already on site, courtesy of the Presidential Advisor. We expect the party national chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, to grace the occasion, which also includes the distribution of the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund of US$25 000, to support the three sitting legislators’ programmes. Most of the building materials are already on site, together with the builders and engineers. We are only waiting for the leadership’s guidance, and once given the green light, everything will roll as per plan, and by June, we should be talking of a different story,” said Cde Mukodza.
He said that on Saturday, the party will have a similar programme in Chimanimani, where building materials are being delivered on site.
Cde Mukodza said the two legislators in the district will receive US$25 000 through the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund.
He said Dr Tungwarara, who was last Sunday recommended for co-option into the ruling party’s Central Committee, will also attend a ground-breaking ceremony and an early provincial Christmas party in Makoni on Tuesday.
The party will also unveil 3D architectural designs and land to construct its offices adjacent to Makoni Country Club, and distribute the PCEF to five constituencies across the district.
“The Presidential Advisor is supporting, not fighting the sitting legislators and the current party leadership – a principle that aligns with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 – that consistency and loyalty to the party structures are a must, and party members must work together to empower the grassroots,” said Cde Mukodza.
Cde Mukodza said they have since communicated their recommendation of Dr Tungwarara for co-option to the Central Committee to the national leadership. The endorsement follows a resolution by the Chipinge District Coordinating Committee (DCC), nominating Dr Tungwarara as the ideal successor to the vacant main wing post left by Cde Dorothy Mabika.
Cde Mabika, who hails from Chipinge, stepped down from the post earlier this year, and was subsequently elected the Women’s League provincial chairlady. Dr Tungwarara’s nomination was met with thunderous applause, as the packed gallery erupted into song, dance, whistling, and ululation – signalling overwhelming grassroots approval, while underscoring the determination to elevate hardworking cadres and defend the province’s collective voice within the party’s structures.
The latest recommendation superseded one made a fortnight ago following concerns by the National Commissariat Department over procedural issues that could have been overlooked.
A circular from the commissariat department, signed by national commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha, referencing a Legal Affairs Department circular issued on June 30, 2025, directed that any replacement must originate from the same administrative district as the outgoing member – making Chipinge the logical source of the successor.
“We moved with what the national leadership had guided us on. The national political commissar wrote to us indicating what we must do, and we did that. So I am happy that the province is very compliant and efficient in executing directives because we executed the instruction from the national PC. It was going to be a different story if we had not done so as per instruction.
We acted on the instruction of the masses, as directed by the national PC.
So, as usual, we report to the national leadership about what happened.
Ours was just a recommendation, and the national leadership will deliberate on that. As far as we are concerned, we have made our choice as a province, and we are just waiting for its ratification by the national leadership,” said Cde Mukodza.
Zanu PF Central Committee members from Chipinge, who attended the electric PCC meeting, reaffirmed Dr Tungwarara’s recommendation, saying the resolution was authentic, reflective of the will of the people of Chipinge, and appealed to the party leadership to uphold it.
Cde Winnie Mlambo said: “We are in support of the co-option of Dr Tungwarara because he hails from our district. He is our child, and we are not going to change our position. We are fully behind his co-option.”
Following the tabling of Chipinge’s recommendation, several other party members seconded the motion in support of Dr Tungwarara’s co-option into the Central Committee.
Central Committee member and Mutare North legislator, Cde Admire Mahachi said the position taken by Chipinge was binding.
“That position taken by Chipinge becomes our position as a province. Our only appeal is for the party leadership to accept our decision, as Dr Tungwarara was born and raised in Chipinge. He is one of us and really deserves this,” said Cde Mahachi.
Another Central Committee member, Cde Misheck Mugadza, applauded President Mnangagwa for creating an environment that ensures young turks thrive and assume positions in the party and Government.
“I want to thank the people of Manicaland for your unity, but above all, I want to thank President Mnangagwa for creating an environment that allows young turks to hold influential positions within the party and Government. We are saying congratulations to the Presidential Advisor because we know that our party leadership will accept our decision as a province,” said Cde Mugadza.
