Online Reporter
Zimpapers Politics Hub
Presidential Empowerment Programmes have resumed after a temporary pause to restructure and strengthen accountability systems, Special Advisor to the President Dr Paul Tungwarara has announced.
Dr Tungwarara said the brief suspension was meant to refine implementation mechanisms, enhance transparency and ensure that resources reach intended beneficiaries efficiently.
“The empowerment of Zimbabweans has never stopped,” he said.
“We took a step back not to pause progress, but to fortify the engine that drives it.”
He said under the guidance of President Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF leadership, new structures have been put in place to improve record-keeping, monitoring and accountability following concerns that in the past some resources were distributed without adequate tracking systems.
“We listened to the concerns. We heard that in the past, resources were sometimes collected without proper records of utilisation. That era is over,” said Dr Tungwarara.
He said the revamped framework seeks to combine economic empowerment with sound governance and is aimed at mainstreaming informal traders and rural communities into the formal economy.
The relaunch was marked by a disbursement of US$75 000 in Manicaland Province under the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund.
The funds were distributed at Marange High School to three constituencies — Mutare North, Mutare West and Mutare South — each receiving US$25 000.
In addition to the cash allocations, two trucks of fertiliser were distributed to support agricultural productivity and 1 000 bicycles were handed over to ease transport challenges in rural communities.
Dr Tungwarara said his office had also pledged to support the renovation of Marange Hospital and the refurbishment of teachers’ accommodation as part of a broader, holistic approach to empowerment.
He said preparations were at an advanced stage to launch the Village Presidential Empowerment Fund, which aims to reach 35 000 villages within six months.
“This fund is designed to penetrate the deepest corners of our country, ensuring that no one is left behind,” he said.
The programmes will target youths, women, war veterans and essential service providers such as teachers and nurses, with a focus on providing capital for productive activities in sectors including agriculture, mining and small-scale enterprises.
Dr Tungwarara said corrective measures have been implemented to address structural weaknesses that affected previous phases of the programme, including strengthened monitoring mechanisms in line with party and Government oversight structures.
“With the structures in place and the vision clear, we are ready to roll out empowerment on an unprecedented scale,” he said.
The Presidential empowerment initiatives form part of broader efforts to promote economic inclusion and support Zimbabwe’s vision of attaining upper-middle-income status by 2030.
