The ruling ZANU PF party has announced the resumption of the Presidential Empowerment Programmes, with special advisor Dr. Paul Tungwarara spearheading a renewed push to deliver capital and resources to thousands of youths, the elderly, and vulnerable groups across the country.
National Political Commissar, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha, confirmed that the party is finalising modalities for the rollout, stating that consultations are underway to ensure effective implementation.
“When ZANU PF was launched, its primary objective was to empower the people of Zimbabwe by enabling them to own businesses and become productive contributors to the national economy,” said Cde Machacha.
The revived initiative places Dr. Tungwarara at the helm of a comprehensive strategy to mainstream informal traders and rural communities into the formal economy.
In a significant down payment on this renewed pledge, Dr. Tungwarara recently officiated the disbursement of USD 75,000 to three constituencies in Manicaland-Mutare North, Mutare West, and Mutare South-under the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund.
The January 11 event at Marange High School saw thousands of villagers benefit from direct cash injections, with each constituency receiving USD 25 000.
Beyond the financial boost, Dr. Tungwarara distributed two trucks of fertilizer and 1 000 bicycles to ease transport challenges for rural communities. He also pledged to renovate Marange Hospital and refurbish teachers’ residences, addressing critical social infrastructure deficits.
“Empowerment is a political weapon against poverty,” said Minister of State and Provincial Affairs Mugadza during the event, praising Dr. Tungwarara for transforming presidential policies into tangible grassroots projects.
Dr. Tungwarara has announced ambitious plans to expand the fund nationwide, including the launch of a new Village Presidential Empowerment Fund aimed at reaching 35,000 villages within the next six months.
The initiative targets a broad cross-section of society, including youths, women, war veterans, teachers, and nurses, providing them with access to capital to stimulate entrepreneurship and create employment.
The resumption of the programme builds on Dr. Tungwarara’s extensive portfolio of presidential projects.
His previous initiatives have laid the groundwork for the current phase:
· Presidential Borehole Scheme: Implemented by his Prevail Group of Companies, this ambitious plan has installed boreholes across rural areas to ensure water security and boost agricultural productivity.
· Health Infrastructure: Tungwarara initiated renovations at Mpilo Hospital and is driving progress at Parirenyatwa Hospital to enhance public healthcare capacity.
· Presidential Solar Scheme: This initiative equips communities with renewable energy, powering livelihoods in areas overlooked by traditional energy providers.
· River Rehabilitation: Collaborating with Australian experts, Tungwarara pioneered a programme to address river siltation, protecting ecosystems and farming livelihoods.
· Vendor Support: In mid-2025, he launched the Presidential Vendors’ Empowerment Scheme in Bindura, pledging US$200,000 in interest-free seed capital across ten provinces to transform informal traders into entrepreneurs.
“The focus is on empowering communities so that they can thrive long after our intervention,” Dr. Tungwarara stated previously, underscoring a commitment to sustainable develo pment .
With the programme now back on track, thousands of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable citizens are poised to benefit from this latest chapter in the country’s empowerment drive.
