An audio recording has circulated online in which a voice identified as Zimbabwean presidential advisor Paul Tungwarara addresses his exclusion from nominations for 10 new Senate seats. In the recording, the voice states that he is not “aggrieved” by the decision.
The audio, whose authenticity has not been independently verified, captures a conversation between the individual identified as Tungwarara and an unidentified person. The discussion centers on the nomination process for the new Senate positions established under Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Amendment (No. 2) Act of 2021.
These 10 seats were created to represent the country’s youth, with one senator designated for each of Zimbabwe’s provinces. The nominations are managed through a party-list system based on the results of the most recent general election.
In the recording, which was first reported on by local media outlets including New Zimbabwe, the individual identified as Tungwarara is heard responding to a question about not securing a nomination. He states he was not concerned by the outcome and remains focused on his current role.
Mr. Tungwarara serves as a Presidential Advisor on Empowerment and Investment in the administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. His role involves advising the government on economic and investment strategies aimed at national development.
As of this report, neither Mr. Tungwarara nor the Zimbabwean government have issued a public statement commenting on the audio recording or confirming its authenticity. The circumstances under which the conversation was recorded and subsequently released online remain unclear. The full list of official nominees for the 10 youth quota Senate seats has been a subject of public and political discussion since the positions were established.
