Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister, Shuvai Mahofa, on the Defence forces day failed to inspect a guard of honour mounted for her because of her deteriorating health.
Mahofa who attended the event at Mucheke stadium was rescued, by Psychomotor minister Josaya Hungwe who stood in for her and inspected the guard of honour.
This is not the first time Mahofa has failed to inspect the guard of honour as she did the same during Independence Day celebrations in April this year.
The ailing Mugabe minister later confirmed to Newsday that she was yet to recover.
Mahofa has been unwell since December last year soon after the Zanu PF conference held Victoria Falls, amid reports of suspected food poisoning.
She later spent almost three months admitted at a private hospital in South Africa, with close family members saying she had chronic heart and kidney problems.
The Zanu PF “Iron Lady” of Masvingo also missed Mugabe’s belated birthday celebrations held at the Great Zimbabwe Monuments in March, as she was bedridden.
Also nicknamed “Chikoforo” because of her hard-line character, Mahofa sent tongues wagging ahead of the party’s conference after she rejected First Lady Grace Mugabe’s presidential bid, saying she only recognised her as the women’s league chairperson and wife of the President.
Grace is locked in a bitter succession war with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction — which  Mahofa reportedly belongs to — to replace Mugabe, who is in his twilight years.
Both Grace and Mnangagwa have denied leading any factions.Newsday