Mzembi snubbed at State function

By Tatenda Chitagu

MASVINGO — Despite surviving the brutal purge of alleged allies of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru in Zanu PF, Tourism minister Walter Mzembi on Wednesday was reminded by a faction aligned to VP Emmerson Mnangagwa that he is not part of their family.

Mzembi was ignored at a function to enshrine Masvingo Train Station where Mnangagwa allegedly bombed a railway line and derailed a steam locomotive in 1962 during the liberation war against the colonial regime.

The site is expected to be soon declared a National Heritage with the hope of making it a tourist attraction.

During the enshrinement ceremony, Mzembi — who as the Tourism minister was expected to take a prominent role — was relegated to the back seats and was not given an opportunity to speak at the function. Instead, Zanu PF secretary for Environment and Tourism, Prisca Mupfumira, delivered a speech as Mzembi sat back in the crowd, seemingly feeling out of place.

Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia, deputises Mupfumira in that party position.

“We are here because of the Home Affairs ministry. The party is bigger than government, although government implements this programme through Home Affairs ministry and National Museums and Monuments,” Mnangagwa said.

“We have here Godfrey Mahachi [executive director of National Museums and Monuments in Zimbabwe] who writes to government what is important, but the party would want to be involved.”

Added Mnangagwa: “Chikomana chinonzi [The boy who is called] Mzembi as Tourism minister is the one who will later invite people, but he has to wait for all those procedures and hierarchy to go on. I just wanted to make it clear to you how it works.”

The other perceived Mujuru allies at the function were not acknowledged at all.
These included former Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, former Zanu PF provincial chairman Killian Gwanetsa and former Health Deputy minister Paul Chimedza.

Mzembi could not be reached for comment yesterday. Speaking later at a rally at Mucheke Stadium, Mnangagwa said the purge of the Gamatox faction (a reference to the Mujuru faction) was far from over.

“Zanu PF is a revolutionary party. If you do not toe the correct line, you go. No one is a sacred cow in Zanu PF. People are fired one-by-one, so don’t be fooled. Those who are against the revolution will be swept aside,” he said. The Standard