By Talent Gondo |The recent seven days State visit to China by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his entourage of several Zanu Pf ministers is mere fundraising for a party torn by serious factionalism and on the brink of a humiliating defeat at the hands of opposition this coming election, the MDC T has said.
Douglas Mwonzora, MDC T Secretary General told ZimEye that because Zanu Pf remains Zanu Pf in actions and deeds, President Mnangagwa’s entourage of at least 10 ministers, the first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa and several government officials reflected “a typical last super mentality” where Zanu Pf knew that its days at the helm of power were numbered.
“The current crop of leadership knows that their time is up and that their days are numbered as we get closer to elections,” said Mwonzora.
“Tagging along such a number of ministers boggles the mind but it is a clear reflection that Zanu Pf remains Zanu Pf and this party will never change.”
Mwonzora said because President Mnangagwa wanted to reward his allies and those who supported him get into power, the ministers had been incorporated as part of the delegation to China.
He said besides rewarding his cronies through foreign travel where these ministers and government officials gobbled millions of US Dollars in accommodation and other travelling expenses, such escapades by the Mnangagwa was fundraising for his allies and the party Zanu Pf.
“These ministers get a lot of money in Travel and Subsistence (T and S) and they need this money to campaign as individuals and at a party level,” he said.
The seven days State visit to China makes it
President Mnangagwa’s 13th foreign trip this year
.
This is despite that following his inauguration following the November 24 2017 military intervention which saw him assume power from former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa pledged to reduce the huge bill gobbled through foreign travel by his predecessor.
During the first 10 months of 2016, Mugabe’s globetrotting escapades saw him splurge US$36 million on foreign and domestic travel according to a local publication the Zimbabwe Independent.