Zanu-PF Second Secretary and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday rapped the party’s provincial acting chairperson for Midlands Province 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 Grace Mugabe at Mataga Growth Point, Mberengwa District in the Midlands Province.
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, Chivamba was interjected by Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, who asked him to correctly pronounce VP Mphoko’s name following the expression of reservations by VP Mphoko.
This was after 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 Chivamba.
VP Mphoko first invited 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 Chivamba accompanied VP Mphoko who left the event earlier.
First Lady Grace 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. State Media
5 Replies to “Mboko Slur Angers Vice President”
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Zvaakatozoita izvozvo zvekutsiura munhu paruzhinji ndozvinotaridza kuti imboko yemunhu.
Asi iye ari mboko zvakeka hazhichinje imboko chete
Iwe iwe iwe
It was deliberate and just meant to humiliate the Mphoko guy, but who cares regai vatukane.
If I have actually told you that my name is Edinbrough (Edinburgh) why call me Edinbeg?
Why did he suddenly get it right after correction.
while not excusing the failure to pronounce Mphoko, The VP should be awareShona does not have the syllable MPHo nor mpo . If has mbo. from that point of view the use of mboko is not meant to be derogatory. next, Vice president needed to be more tolerant and realise people do not always mean harm. in shona old traditional mboko means a type of pumpkin, It is not derogatory. there are people whose last name is mboko in shona. the vice president took offense because of the use of mboko in slang is derogatory. But was the person who used it young. do thye speak slang. I thinl the vice president is seeing shadows and was very very unfair to the person who said mboko. I am sure that person was traumatised. i wonder if that is what the VP wanted,