Tungwarara tears ZANU-PF apart, bribes bogus journalists

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s investment advisor, Paul Tempter Tungwarara’s smart phones donation benefited ZANU-PF cyber-teams and party activists from Varakashi for Economic Development group who are masquerading as accredited journalists, with Mary Mliswa ( Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Chairperson) and Marian Chombo (Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution) reportedly at loggerheads over distribution of the high-tech gadgets, details have emerged.

A survey and investigations by Bulawayo24News crew has revealed that the bulk of beneficiaries from Tungwarara’s donation were mainly from ZANU-PF cyber-teams and social media activists, Varakashi4ED with only two state-controlled accredited journalists receiving smart phones.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the veteran journalists from Mashonaland West Province claimed that instead of uniting the revolutionary party, Tungwarara’s gesture has strained provincial relations between ZANU-PF leadership over control and authority, with Mary Mliswa overriding Marian Chombo during the selection and distribution process of the gadgets to its intended beneficiaries.

“Please let us not allow politicians to taint our dear profession with lies and manipulation on the high-tech gadgets bribe. Majority of the beneficiaries of the smart phones are not accredited journalists, they are members of the ZANU-PF cyber team from Varakashi4ED,” the journalist said.

“In short, the bulk of them are ZANU-PF foot soldiers masquerading as accredited journalists. Mashonaland West Province has a total of 33 accredited journalists. Of the 33 journalists, Chinhoyi has 18 of them,” the journalist added.

“Mary Mliswa stole the show when she presided over the process and compiled a list with Varakashi4ED social media activists dominating the list,” the journalist added.

“When we asked Mary why she is presiding over donations of smart phones instead of giving the Minister of State’s office an opportunity to distribute the gagdets, she responded that we will suffer for submitting to the wrong leadership. She handpicked only two journalists from state-controlled media while the rest were from ZANU-PF’s Varakashi4ED group,” the journalist said.

“This did not go down well with Marian Chombo who complained that Mary was overriding the whole process in order to benefit some close associates without considering credentials,” the journalist added.

In a recent post from two credible ZANU-PF social media platforms, they announced that Tungwarara made generous donation of 20 high-tech phones to journalists.

“In a move aimed at enhancing digital communication, Dr. Tungwarara has gifted 20 state-of-the-art phones, including Samsung S25 and iPhone 16 Pro models, to journalists who attended the Mash West program. This donation is intended to facilitate easy social media engagement and reporting and they will be utilized to showcase the accomplishments and initiatives of the Second Republic, led by H.E President ED Mnangagwa and his administration,” the post reads.

“The goal is to highlight the positive impact of their policies and programs on the nation. In addition 32 comrades are now on a payroll getting $300 USD per month for promoting EDWORKS. Also a journalist fund for identified individuals who have been promoting EDWORKS on social media has been created,” the post further reads.

Accuracy, truth and objectivity are amongst the cornerstones of journalism ethics. Journalists are encouraged to maintain a degree of detachment from the religions, groups, or countries they are associated with, in order to minimize potential biases in their reporting. It is however worrisome that the bulk of Tungwarara’s foot soldiers and cyberteams from a faction aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa are masquerading as journalists whilst they are mere party activists.

When contacted to explain if the donation does not compromise on media ethics and framing of news especially between the two accredited journalists from state-controlled media who benefited from the exercise, Tungwarara did not respond to questions sent through his mobile phone.

Efforts to get a comment from Marian Chombo on her alleged fallout with Mary Mliswa were futile since her phone was not answered.

By Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole