Political Correspondent
HARARE – The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture has launched a scathing attack on Prevail International, a company linked to one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top advisors, accusing it of failing to deliver on a flagship rural development scheme despite receiving substantial public funds.
Prevail International, owned by presidential advisor to the UAE Paul Tempter Tungwarara, was contracted to drill 10,000 boreholes and establish Village Business Units (VBUs) under the Presidential Rural Development Programme. However, MPs report that many projects remain non-functional, leaving rural communities without promised water and development opportunities.
During verification visits in Chivi District, Masvingo Province, the Committee accused the company of “window dressing” and gross underperformance. Rushinga MP Tendai Nyabani stated:
“In Rushinga Constituency we have the same problem with Prevail International — all the sites are not working, not even a single drop of water since they drilled over a year ago. Government has put a lot of money in non-functional VBUs and the company is not cooperating.”
Marambapfungwe legislator Tichaona Karumazondo echoed these concerns:
“They promise to come after a week but never turn up. It’s been a year now and our VBUs are still not working.”
Gokwe District MP Stephen Ngwenya questioned the oversight by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA):
“Is ZINWA monitoring these projects, or are they just sitting in their offices while taxpayers’ money is being wasted?”
Documents reveal that in Rushinga District, only three out of 42 VBUs are operational. Local councillors in Chivi reported that villagers have been forced to pay for water connections and other amenities on projects that were supposedly fully government-funded.
The scheme, launched by President Mnangagwa in 2021 to benefit 1.8 million households, now faces scrutiny over the tender award process and allegations of inflated costs. Sources within ZINWA claim Prevail International charged over US$16,000 per borehole compared to approximately US$6,000 from other providers.
Despite these issues, the company expanded in 2023 and 2024 with new equipment. MPs warn that without urgent corrective action, the multimillion-dollar programme risks becoming another costly failure.
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