By Wendy Muperi
HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Elizabeth on Friday appeared at Harare’s Budiriro 5 Shopping Centre, 7 000 kilometres away from India where she was purported to be by the state media.
Looking resplendent in a stunning bright blue and black suit, Elizabeth appeared by her husband’s side as the premier launched the Water Conservation and Zero Litter campaign in the bustling high density suburb.
Although it was a government event attended by government ministers, MDC supporters saluted Tsvangirai’s wife and waved the MDC open palm symbol as she accompanied her husband to receive a token from Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda.
State media alleged Tsvangirai’s wife left Harare on Thursday on a week-long visit to South Africa and India on a government-bankrolled shopping spree ostensibly to buy wedding gear for the couple’s nuptials. But her appearance yesterday exposed the state media’s false report, which came a day after an editorial shake-up at Zimpapers.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said evidently, the state media report was false, malicious and exposed a plot to smear the MDC leader. “The presence of Amai (Tsvangirai) at the launch has exposed their maliciousness,” Tamborinyoka told the Daily News. “God knows if Budiriro in Harare is now the new Calcutta or New Delhi in India.
“This is laughable and madness, they (the state media) have every reason to be ashamed.”
Tamborinyoka said there is a perpetual campaign to denigrate the premier as evidenced by false reports peddled in the state media. “We have seen and heard this in the last few months and I assure you that we shall hear and see more reports of that nature,” he said.
“It would have been better if it was going to be mere propaganda but to concoct outright lies is ridiculous, the reporters should join Hollywood.”
Withdrawn but affable, Tsvangirai’s wife engaged with government officials to the delight of the crowd. One person in the crowd commented “Mudhara ane choice ende mukadzi akanaka hake uyu. (This man has good taste for women)”.
There was no doubt that the Premier’s wife stole the show at an event whose main thrust was to educate the populace on the merits of water conservation. Morgan customarily married Elizabeth in April. Daily News
