Harare, (New Ziana) — The Commissariat Department of the ruling Zanu-PF party has nullified the recent co-option of Paul Tungwarara into the party’s Central Committee, citing procedural violations, a senior party official has said.
According to a statement issued by the party’s national political commissar, Munyaradzi Machacha, the Manicaland Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) met on Sunday, 7 December 2025, and resolved to co-opt Tungwarara to fill the vacancy left by the late Dorothy Mabika.
However, the decision was overturned after it was found to contravene guidelines outlined in a Legal Affairs Department Circular issued on 30 June 2025.
“The Commissariat Department has established that Manicaland Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) convened a meeting on Sunday 7 December 2025, during which Cde. Dr. Paul T. Tungwarara was co-opted as a Central Committee Member filling the vacant post left by Cde. Dorothy Mabika.
“In this regard, you are advised that the said co-option has been nullified with immediate effect, as the process contravened the Legal Affairs Department Circular, dated 30 June 2025 which set out mandatory guidelines and procedures for co-opting members into the Central Committee,” said Machacha.
The statement sets out strict criteria for replacing Central Committee members, including the requirement that any nominee must come from the same Administrative District as the outgoing member.
In this case, the vacant seat falls under Chipinge District, meaning the replacement must also be drawn from Chipinge to preserve the party’s long-standing principles of proportional representation and equitable distribution of seats across districts.
Following the review, Machacha directed Manicaland province to restart the co-option process, ensuring full compliance with the prescribed procedures.
He also issued a stern warning against any conduct that could be construed as vote buying during the interim and stressed that any aspiring candidate found distributing money, goods, or services to influence the process would face automatic disqualification.
Manicaland province is now expected to reconvene and conduct a fresh, compliant co-option exercise once Chipinge District identifies a suitable candidate.
New Ziana
