HARARE - Author and speaker Joshua Maponga on Tuesday posted a video statement attacking activist Rutendo Benson Matinyarare, alleging financial impropriety, selective recording of conversations, and disputes over sanctions-lobbying work in Zimbabwe.
In the video circulated on social media, Maponga said he was “clarifying stories” told by Matinyarare.
He claimed that journalist Hopewell Chin’ono mediated the dispute between Matinyarare, and Maponga.
He claimed the group held a three-way conference call with Chin’ono after a “squabble and misdirected misinformation videos” that Matinyarare had posted online.
“Hopewell Chin’ono advised me that we needed to bury our hatchet so that we can be able to develop the Zimbabwe story in a more positive light,” Maponga said.
He added that he later called Matinyarare directly to advise him on “where I thought he should best handle himself and go forward.”
Maponga disputed several claims he attributed to Matinyarare.
He alleged that Matinyarare “was paid $14.2 million and he did not pay the lawyers,” adding that lawyers later submitted “another invoice altogether.”
He also denied that Matinyarare was introduced to businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei through “ED Junior,” stating: “I personally took him to meet up with Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
”Maponga further rejected assertions that Matinyarare “removed sanctions,” saying the effort involved “the nation of Zimbabwe, embassies, public sector and international relations offices, including civilians who had been sleeping at the US Embassy for months.”
Maponga accused Matinyarare of recording private conversations and selectively releasing material. “He records everything that you speak. He records everything that you say and he selects what he wants to publish and what he does not want to publish,” Maponga said.
He added that “other information” would be released later about “misunderstandings and some of the misgivings,” including references to a “presidential encounter” and unspecified “hotel and other events.”
Maponga made several direct allegations against Matinyarare, calling him “a liar,” “a criminal,” and “a conman.” He also said: “Benson is a psychiatric patient,” and accused him of “selective amnesia.”
Referring to the alleged $14.2 million payment, Maponga said: “There’s no way you can be paid that kind of money 14.2 million and you go on to lambast and lie about the man that even knew that you were lying.”
He claimed Tagwirei told him personally that he had given Matinyarare “500,000 to pay for some of his debt so that he can focus on this issue.”
Maponga said his initial collaboration with Matinyarare was aimed at “making Zimbabwe great again,” rebuilding the country’s brand and working on “the conversation around sanctions.”
“We had a business plan, a strategy on how to do that. You picked the bag of money and you ran away through the door and you come back after you’ve squandered that money,” Maponga said. “You want to claim that you’re a victim. You’re too smart for yourself.”
Matinyarare, Chin’ono, Tagwirei and others named in the video had not publicly responded at the time of publication.
The claims made by Maponga have not been independently verified.
The video comes after Matinyarare received Tuesday collected the Toyota Land Cruiser that was gifted to him by Presidential Adviser Paul Tungwarara. The vehicle, together with an additional US$200,000, was reportedly part of an agreement reached after Rutendo apologised to the First Family for remarks that were considered insulting to the President and his family. Maponga said it was ill-advised for Tungwarara to give Matinyarare the car and cash. "Tungwarara comes up to pay for Benson, it’s blackmail. Unfortunately it was not an intelligent well-informed decision that you can pay the very man who was destroying the party and you reward him with blackmail," said Maponga.