HARARE – An unconfirmed report suggests that the Elephant Lodge, a luxury property owned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close ally, Dr Paul Tungwarara, has been set ablaze in Murambinda.
The lodge, valued at over US$2 million, has long been viewed as a symbol of the extravagant lifestyles enjoyed by those within Mnangagwa’s inner circle.
While details remain sketchy, the alleged incident comes against a backdrop of intensifying factional warfare inside ZANU PF, where Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, are embroiled in a fierce succession struggle.
Dr Tungwarara, a businessman with extensive interests in hospitality and mining, has been described by critics as part of the president’s patronage network, benefiting from government contracts and political protection. Opposition figures argue that such alliances reflect the deep rot of corruption within the ruling elite.
“This is what happens when a ruling party turns the state into private property,” said CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere. “While ordinary Zimbabweans can barely afford bread, Mnangagwa’s allies flaunt multi-million-dollar lodges. Now, as ZANU PF devours itself in its succession wars, these symbols of corruption are under fire — literally.”
Party insiders admit that the succession battle has reached unprecedented levels of hostility, with rival camps accused of sabotage, intimidation, and covert operations against each other’s business and political interests. Some observers suggest that the alleged attack on Tungwarara’s property could be linked to these simmering tensions.
“Mnangagwa’s camp is nervous, and Chiwenga’s allies are restless,” said one political analyst who requested anonymity. “We are seeing signs of a shadow war where assets, businesses, and even lives are at stake. If true, the burning of this lodge is not random — it is a message.”
The alleged incident highlights the growing instability within ZANU PF at a time when the nation is grappling with economic collapse, runaway inflation, and mass unemployment. Ordinary citizens, opposition voices argue, continue to suffer while the ruling elite engages in dangerous power plays.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement, and efforts to contact Dr Tungwarara for comment were unsuccessful.
For many Zimbabweans, the alleged torching of the Elephant Lodge symbolises more than just factional battles — it is a stark reminder of a political system in which the powerful enrich themselves while the country burns.
