Tinotenda Tungwarara, the daughter of controversial tenderpreneur and presidential adviser Paul Tungwarara, has sparked outrage online after taking part in a social media stunt involving hidden cash at Harare’s Trabablas Interchange.
Tinotenda and her brother reportedly concealed US$500 in five separate locations around the interchange, placing US$100 at each spot before posting a video challenging members of the public to find the money.
The stunt quickly triggered backlash on social media, where many Zimbabweans criticised the display as insensitive and out of touch with the economic hardships facing ordinary citizens.
Tungwarara has frequently attracted public attention over allegations tied to political patronage and access to lucrative government-linked business opportunities.
The incident drew strong criticism from online publication The NewsHawks, which described the stunt as tone-deaf in a country grappling with widespread poverty and economic inequality.
Watch the Video Here
WATCH | Paul Tungwarara’s daughter posted a video showing her hiding US$100 notes, totaling US$500, at various locations around the Trabablas Interchange. In the video, she encouraged members of the public to visit the area and try to find the hidden money by carefully following… pic.twitter.com/CrUwridnhb
— 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐙𝐖 (@CrimeWatchZW) May 7, 2026
In its editorial, the publication criticised what it called “childish antics with money in a sea of poverty,” arguing that the spectacle reflected poor judgement and insensitivity toward struggling Zimbabweans.
The controversy has also reignited debate around displays of wealth by politically connected elites at a time when many citizens are facing economic pressure, unemployment and rising living costs.
Public reaction online was swift and overwhelmingly negative.
Commenting on the ZimCelebs Facebook page users like Dexter Nyabereka questioned why the money was not donated to orphanages or vulnerable communities instead of being used for entertainment.
Others accused the stunt of mocking poor people for social media attention.
Luckmore Maponga described the challenge as “making fun of the poor,” while Peter Chirimuuta compared the display of extravagance to the excesses associated with pre-revolutionary France under Marie Antoinette.
Some users warned that widening inequality and public displays of privilege risk fuelling deeper public resentment.
Prince Maruta wrote that similar social conditions in history had contributed to revolutions, while Brian Phiri compared the situation to the Roman Empire distracting struggling citizens with spectacle during periods of hardship.
Another user, Adamski Mila, argued that the stunt reflected a lack of awareness of Zimbabwe’s economic reality, saying conditions in the country differ significantly from wealth-driven social media culture elsewhere.
Venda Masera criticised what he viewed as unearned privilege, suggesting charitable organisations and orphanages could have benefited more meaningfully from the money.
The controversy adds to ongoing scrutiny surrounding the Tungwarara family, particularly on social media where Tinotenda’s luxury lifestyle, shopping trips and travel between Dubai, Johannesburg and Harare have frequently attracted public attention.
Neither Tinotenda nor Paul Tungwarara had publicly responded to the criticism at the time of publication.
