By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|There are growing concerns over Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa’s health after government officials here announced the veteran politician will extend her leave up to the end of February.
Speculation is rife the outspoken politicial was poisoned at her party’s December conference following public attacks on First Lady Grace Mugabe.
The director in the minister’s office Kudakwashe Machako this week claimed the minister would be back in the office in February. He said the minister extended her annual vacational leave adding there was “nothing sinister” about the prolonged leave.
“We are well in touch with Minister Mahofa and we phone her for daily consultations so there is nothing to go to town about.
“The minister will be back in the office in February. For your own information she is in touch with what is happening on the ground,” charged Machako.
Contrary to Machako’s claims however, Mahofa has not been reachable since December, raising speculations on her health .
Mahofa, who has not appeared in public since December openly clashed with Grace Mugabe when she told the Women’s League boss she had no capacity to replace her husband as the president of both Zanu PF and the country.
Although government officials claimed Mahofa at one point suffered from malaria ,party insiders maintain the minister was poisoned in Victoria Falls and her health condition has remained anonymous.
When she finally comes back, she is likely to fly into a storm following a carefully schemed Grace Mugabe ploy to fire her.