Tinotenda Hove – The Action Democratic Movement (ADM) has strongly criticised Presidential Advisor Paul Tungwarara, accusing him of generating what it described as “unwanted noise” and symbolising deeper systemic problems in Zimbabwe’s governance and economic structure.

In a statement released last week, the opposition movement said the country has reached a point where inequality and nepotism are being normalised, to the detriment of ordinary citizens.

“We live in a country where a grown man—an ordinary citizen—is measured and valued at fifty or one hundred dollars, while a 17-year-old child is placed as a CEO of a taxi company and a supermarket, not by merit, not by experience, but by proximity to power,” the statement read.
ADM argued that such practices amount to exclusion rather than empowerment.

“This is not empowerment. This is not development. This is economic exclusion disguised as opportunity,” the movement said.
The party warned that when leadership roles and economic opportunities are distributed through family or political connections, ordinary Zimbabweans are effectively sidelined.

“When leadership positions and national opportunities are handed down like family inheritance, the rest of Zimbabweans are silently told: you do not matter. Our qualifications do not matter. Our experience does not matter. Our sacrifices do not matter,” ADM stated.

According to the movement, the system undermines competition and hope while rewarding connections over competence. “This system indirectly limits millions of capable Zimbabweans. It kills competition, destroys hope, and replaces hard work with connections,” the statement said. “It teaches our children that success comes not from effort, education, or integrity—but from who your parents are.”

ADM said it envisions a different Zimbabwe, one built on fairness and merit. “ADM stands for a Zimbabwe where every child competes fairly, where leadership is earned, not gifted, and where no Zimbabwean is reduced to a dollar value while others live above the law,” the movement said.

While emphasising that it supports youth advancement, ADM drew a clear distinction between empowerment and privilege. “We are not against young people succeeding. We are against unfair advantage, nepotism, and state capture,” it said.

“True youth empowerment means creating equal access to education, capital, and opportunity for all young Zimbabweans—not elevating a few while millions remain locked out.”

The statement concluded with a broader call for systemic change and accountability. “Zimbabwe does not belong to families. Zimbabwe belongs to its people,” ADM said. “The struggle before us is not tribal, personal, or emotional—it is systemic. And systems can be changed when people refuse to normalize injustice.”

Calling for collective action, the movement urged citizens to push for reform. “Let us demand transparency. Let us demand merit. Let us demand a Zimbabwe that works for everyone. Enough is enough.”