Tungwarara's world crumbles, war vets bribes face backlash

Controversial Presidential advisor, Paul Tempter Tungwarara's temptation to bribe veterans of the liberation struggle has faced criticism when he recently paraded the poverty-stricken rural combatants around tuckshop-sized (or fowl-run-shaped) demonstration structures disguised as decent houses.


Social media was awash with condemnation from various influencers who claim the scheme was not genuine and meant to suborn the combatants from demanding their dues  or review of their welfare.

Lawyer and politician, Fadzayi Mahere quizzed (through her official X account, formerly Twitter) the government's sincerity in building such structure designated as fowl-runs, describing the initiative as a gimmick to buy war veterans silence against contesting 2030 unconstitutional Presidential term extension.

"Would you live in this house? So why are you shafting it off to the war vets? All this just to stay in power until 2030? Instead of all these gimmicks, why not govern correctly so that all Zimbabweans can afford a decent home paid for by their own money?," Mahere quizzed.

Indirectly demanding to know if the shacks have met the basic infrastructure prerequisites (standards) and endorsement by war veterans, Mahere quizzes if they have decent bathrooms in a satirical way referring if it attracts silence from vocal and decorated war veteran, 'Blessed Geza' and his crew.

"Dzimba nyowani dzamuri kuvakira maWar Vet kuti vasapikise 2030 dzine pekuGeza here? (Are these rural houses for which you are building for war veterans of the liberation struggle to buy their silence against contesting 2030 unconstitutional term extension meet basic standards of having bathrooms)," Mahere rhetorically questions.

"Why is the roof of the war vet's house being held up by a plank? What will happen if there's a strong wind or a rain storm, will the roof survive?," Mahere further questions.

Political analyst and government critique, Kudzai Mutisi wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) account described the initiative as a deception campaign by Tungwarara while likening the houses structure and size to a matchbox.

"The sad part is that these matchbox structures won’t even reach their intended beneficiaries. If 10 War Vets per  province get them it will be a miracle," Mutisi wrote in the post.

"Tungwarara will go back to President Mnangagwa and report that War Vets are very happy, so happy they want you to stay in power until 2090. But the pictures here speak for themselves. Look at the maize crop in the background, it is (has) yellow and stunted, clear evidence of lack of nitrogenous fertiliser! The War Veteran at this homestead can’t afford fertiliser and with these heavy rains this season, his yield will be pathetically low. He may end up sleeping hungry in his matchbox house!," Mutisi added.

"Look, the War Veterans, who include my own father and uncles, sacrificed a lot for the nation. They definitely deserve to be rewarded for their sacrifice. However, the rewards MUST BE SUSTAINABLE. The sustainability of these rewards rest on the ECONOMIC POLICIES of the government and the depth of the rewards," Mutisi wrote.

"The government of Zimbabwe gave the War Veterans $50 000 in the late 90s, but it was all eroded by inflation. Over the years, lots of initiatives to empower war veterans were launched but they only benefited less than 1% of the War Veterans," Mutisi claims.

"In 2025, a Tungwarara is back with another initiative for War Veterans. With all the technology available, Tungwarara prefers to go around with a briefcase of US$ Cash that he displays at rallies and dishes to whoever claims to be a War Vet at that rally. He, for some unexplained reason, expects all the War Veterans in that Province to abandon their productive activities to attend his useless rallies where a tiny hamper and $200 in cash is handed to anyone who claims to be a War Vet," Mutisi mocks.

Officially launching the purported 'decent shacks' under an initiative termed Presidential War Veterans Rural Housing Scheme at Dewedzo High School in Makoni West (Rusape) then, Tungwarara claimed the initiative is meant to recognise the contributions of war veterans to the nation's history and identity.

"Together, let us forge a future where our war veterans are celebrated and their contributions are recognised as integral to our national identity," Tungwarara said.

"This initiative aims to improve the lives of our war veterans, with an initial allocation of US$150,000 per province, and the fund is interest-free, enabling our war veterans to embark on projects that stimulate our economy," Tungwarara added.

When contacted to comment on further claims that the boreholes which they are drilling in various provinces have a short-lifespan since some of them ceased to function in less than two months after their launching parades, Tungwarara did not respond despite tireless efforts to reach-out to him through his mobile phone.