Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Zanu-PF Second Secretary and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday rapped the party’s provincial acting chairperson for Midlands Province Cde Kizito Chivamba for failing to pronounce his name during introductions at a campaign rally in Mberengwa.
This happened during a rally that was addressed by First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe at Mataga Growth Point, Mberengwa District in the Midlands Province.
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Cde Chivamba had initially been asked to introduce members of the Zanu-PF provincial executive and had made reference to Amai Mugabe, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and VP Mphoko during salutations.
During his address, Cde Chivamba was interjected by Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, who asked him to correctly pronounce VP Mphoko’s name following the expression of reservations by VP Mphoko.
This was after Cde Chivamba had pronounced the VP’s name as “Mboko.”
When VP Mphoko was eventually asked to give a brief address and introduce Amai Mugabe, he first made a go at Cde Chivamba.
VP Mphoko first invited Cde Chivamba, who was also on the top table, to come to the podium.
“Are you the chairman? Wanditukaka iwe. What does Mboko in Shona mean? You do not deserve to be the chairman,” said VP Mphoko.
The two were later seen together as Cde Chivamba accompanied VP Mphoko who left the event earlier.
First Lady, Amai Mugabe, appeared to later diffuse the tension when just before her address jokingly chided VP Mphoko for failing to know her MaNcube totem.
VP Mphoko had referred to the First Lady’s totem as VaChihera.
In his speech, VP Mphoko castigated tribalism.
“Tribalism is the mother of corruption. For you to be a tribalist, you must be a fundamentalist. This country will not tolerate tribalists. President Mugabe is not a Zezuru, he is the President of this country.”
“Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is not a Mukaranga, he is the Vice President of this country. I am not a Ndebele, but a leader of this country,” said VP Mphoko to rousing applause.
Speaking at the same occasion, VP Mnangagwa commended Amai Mugabe for her good work to the people of Zimbabwe.
He said people had not only benefitted from agricultural mechanisation equipment and the foodstuffs that she had distributed, but also to the exhorting words that she delivered.
“We have been convening meetings here for the past 35 years, but none of them have been well attended as today’s meeting,” said VP Mnangagwa.
He gave Amai Mugabe updates of the various developmental projects in Mberengwa and in the Midlands Province.
Amai Mugabe handed over tractors to the community and donated food and clothing among other goodies.