Mnangagwa in ‘Pamberi nemhandu’ gaffe

By Everson Mushava

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was on Saturday caught up in a humiliating Pamberi nemhandu, [loosely translated “forward with sell-outs”] gaffe, three months after his principal President Robert Mugabe chanted Pasi neZanu PF [Down with Zanu PF] denouncing Zanu PF at the ruling party’s congress in December.

Unlike Mugabe, who had to be reminded by his supporters that he had jumbled up the party slogan, Mnangagwa quickly realised his mistake and made amends.

Mnangagwa made the gaffe while addressing close to 10 000 party supporters at Bob Swift shopping centre in Midlands province where his wife Auxillia launched her by-election campaign to become the MP for Zibagwe-Chirumanzu constituency.

The by-election, which has been boycotted by the main opposition MDC-T, is slated for March 27.

After chanting a series of slogans praising Mugabe and denouncing former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s “Gamatox” faction, Mnangagwa shouted: “Pamberi nemhandu, Pamberi nemhandu, Pamberi nemhandu,” leaving his supporters tongue-tied, before he rectified his mistake and apologised for the gaffe. NewsDay