HARARE — Presidential Special Adviser to President Emmerson Mnangagwa Paul Tungwarara has moved to dispel reports that he was flown to South Africa after falling ill, saying he was airlifted for “other reasons” and insisting that he is alive and will return to Zimbabwe.

Tungwarara addressed the reports in a video shared on social media, filmed while he was feeding fish at his residence in South Africa.

“Yes, I was airlifted, but I was airlifted for other reasons, not being sick,” Tungwarara said, adding that he wanted to make it clear to Zimbabweans that he was alive and would be returning home.

His comments followed reports that he had been flown to South Africa amid claims that he had suffered a heart-related medical problem.

Tungwarara, who was visibly limping in the video, stated that some individuals wished him harm.

The latest development comes just days after Tungwarara shared another video of himself travelling by helicopter to Mberengwa, despite warnings from some people urging him to stop using the mode of transport following the death of businessman Wicknell Chivayo.

Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, Captain Kelvin Tafirei Soda and three others died when their helicopter crashed in the Marondera area on September 30.

Tungwarara described Chivayo as his “brother and partner in development” following the tragedy.

In his Mberengwa video, Tungwarara said he would not stop flying helicopters because of fear following Chivayo’s death.