Presidential advisor and businessman Paul Tempter Tungwarara is under fire following the rollout of a controversial housing project for war veterans. The initiative, intended to honor veterans of the liberation struggle, has been widely criticized, with many arguing that the structures resemble makeshift shelters rather than proper homes.
Videos and images of the newly constructed houses—some described as “tuckshop-sized” or resembling poultry runs—have sparked outrage on social media, with critics accusing Tungwarara of using the scheme as a political tool to pacify war veterans ahead of the 2023 elections.
Legal expert and opposition politician Fadzayi Mahere led the criticism, questioning the government’s sincerity in providing dignified housing for war veterans. Taking to her X (formerly Twitter) account, Mahere slammed the initiative as a ploy to silence potential dissent.
“Would you live in this house? Why are you handing these to war veterans? Is this just to secure power until 2030? Instead of gimmicks, why not focus on governance so that every Zimbabwean can afford a proper home?” she wrote.
Mahere also raised concerns about whether the houses met basic infrastructure requirements, sarcastically asking if they had functional bathrooms.
“Do these new war veterans’ houses have a place to ‘Geza’ (bathe), or are they just being used to buy their silence on the 2030 term extension?” she questioned.
She further pointed out structural concerns, asking, “Why is the roof of this house supported by a wooden plank? Will it survive heavy rains or strong winds?”
Political commentator Kudzai Mutisi also weighed in, dismissing the project as a sham designed to mislead both war veterans and the government. He likened the structures to matchboxes and argued that only a handful of veterans would actually receive them.
“The sad reality is that these so-called houses will likely not reach most intended beneficiaries. If even 10 war veterans per province get them, it would be a miracle,” Mutisi wrote on X.
He further alleged that Tungwarara would likely report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa that war veterans were overjoyed by the initiative, despite clear signs of struggle.
“Look at the maize crop in the background—it’s yellow and stunted, showing a lack of fertilizer. The veteran in this homestead cannot afford fertilizer. With the heavy rains this season, his harvest will be poor. He might end up going to bed hungry in his ‘matchbox’ house,” Mutisi added.
He emphasized that war veterans deserve meaningful and sustainable support, not temporary solutions.
“The government gave war veterans Z$50,000 in the late 90s, but inflation wiped out its value. Over the years, numerous empowerment programs have been introduced, yet fewer than 1% of veterans have benefited,” he argued.
Mutisi also criticized Tungwarara’s method of distributing financial aid, alleging that he carried cash in briefcases to hand out at rallies.
“Tungwarara expects all war veterans in a province to abandon their productive activities and attend his rallies, where they are given a small hamper and US$200. This is not empowerment—it’s a political stunt,” he said.
Speaking at Dewedzo High School in Makoni West (Rusape), where the housing scheme was officially launched under the Presidential War Veterans Rural Housing Scheme, Tungwarara insisted that the initiative was meant to recognize the sacrifices made by war veterans.
“Together, let us build a future where our war veterans are celebrated, and their contributions are recognized as a fundamental part of our national identity,” he stated.
He further revealed that the initiative included an interest-free fund of US$150,000 per province, allowing veterans to invest in economic projects.
However, when questioned about concerns that boreholes installed under the same initiative had already stopped functioning in some areas, Tungwarara did not respond. Attempts to reach him via mobile phone were unsuccessful.
Despite Tungwarara’s assurances, critics remain skeptical, viewing the project as another failed attempt at veteran empowerment. Many argue that war veterans deserve long-term economic solutions rather than temporary fixes that do little to improve their livelihoods.
As calls for accountability grow, the fate of the initiative—and the war veterans relying on it—remains uncertain.
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