Chitando disputes Matinyarare’s Tagwirei debt claims, cites support and settled costs

Chitando disputes Matinyarare’s Tagwirei debt claims, cites support and settled costs

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Advocate Simba Chitando has dismissed as baseless public claims by activist and public relations consultant Rutendo Matinyarare that businessperson and ZANU PF Central Committee member Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei owes him money for consultancy work.

The claims and response were reported by Express Mail Zim, which said Matinyarare has been making the allegations on social media following the collapse into dormancy of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement (ZASN), which he co-directed with Chitando.

In a video cited in the report, Chitando said Tagwirei met and supported the organisation after following its anti-sanctions legal action and demonstrations shared online.

“We contacted Dr Tagwirei and he agreed to meet us to tell our story after he had seen our work and the legal action we had taken against sanctions; he had also seen the demonstrations outside the embassy on social media. He flew us to Harare and paid all the expenses. He also covered all the expenses incurred as ZASN that were supposed to come out of our own pockets, and as ZASN, we are forever grateful to Dr Tagwirei,” Chitando said.

Express Mail Zim reported that Chitando also claimed Tagwirei provided Matinyarare with a vehicle and financial support totalling millions of rand. He further said there was no standing contract and no outstanding debt owed to either ZASN or Matinyarare, adding that the organisation is dormant and undergoing a de-registration process in South Africa.

The report linked the dispute to a separate controversy involving Matinyarare and Special Presidential Adviser Dr Paul Tungwarara.

According to Express Mail Zim, Tungwarara confirmed that Matinyarare received a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series and US$200,000, which he described as a “pacification fee” intended to de-escalate Matinyarare’s public attacks against President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The publication said the episode was followed by a public apology from Matinyarare to the First Family.

Express Mail Zim also reported that some observers believe Matinyarare’s renewed attacks on Tagwirei coincided with the recent benefits he received, although Tungwarara maintained that his involvement was not aimed at targeting anyone within the ruling party.

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The claims and counter-claims were reported as public statements. No contract documents, court papers or arbitration findings relating to the alleged consultancy debt were included in the material provided.

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