A prominent Zimbabwean activist and anti-sanctions campaigner, Rutendo Matinyarare, has declared his willingness to publicly apologise to President Emmerson Mnangagwa just hours after receiving a vehicle from a senior presidential adviser.
The dramatic shift in tone followed a direct engagement with Presidential Advisor Paul Tungwarara, who approached Matinyarare online and subsequently gifted him a car.
“During this public engagement, like a true leader, he extended a hand of reconciliation through the gesture of a vehicle, which he said was in recognition of the work I have done for the country,” Matinyarare said in a statement on Sunday.
The offer of an apology marks a sharp reversal from Matinyarare’s recent public criticism of the President’s administration, particularly regarding the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill 3 (CAB3) and alleged non-payment for his sanctions-related work.
According to Matinyarare, Tungwarara later explained in offline discussions that the President bore no responsibility for the payment issues. “That responsibility lies with Kuda Tagwirei, whom was mandated to work with me,” Matinyarare quoted the adviser as saying.
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Matinyarare also stated that he had “no issue with the President, the First Lady, or the First Family,” adding that any previous critiques had been constructive in nature.
“I also conceded that if, indeed, the President or Amai feel that any of my critique bordered on disrespect, I, as a child of Zimbabwe who has served the country loyally, would be willing to apologise publicly to eliminate any notion that I advocate for the disrespect of our leaders,” he said.
The activist denied suggestions that Tungwarara had orchestrated his earlier criticisms, describing such claims as “unfortunate.” He likened the adviser’s reconciliation efforts to past national unity initiatives, including the 1987 Unity Accord and the 2009 Government of National Unity.
“What the Presidential Advisor is doing aligns with the spirit of Zimbabwe, and I applaud it,” Matinyarare said. “Let those who seek to divide us not succeed in sowing division.”
Neither the President’s office nor Paul Tungwarara had issued official comments on the matter by the time of publication.
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