By Nkululeko Sibanda (Presidential Spokesperson)

The President Advocate Nelson Chamisa has the utmost respect for Zimbabweans and holds the newly appointed minister Kirsty Coventry, with high regard. As he did at the rally yesterday, the President holds with reverence her lifetime of sacrifice in raising the Zimbabwe flag.

We would like to emphasise what the President said in Shona yesterday, which is that Kirsty Coventry is ‘our swimmer’. That she is a swimmer who has made this country proud and excited, even when there was nothing else to smile about. He affectionately referred to Kirsty Coventry, albeit, in Shona as ‘our swimmer’!

For this reason, we de-emphasise the ill-intended rampant social media insinuation that the use of Shona was wrong. The use of Shona in a speech on one of Zimbabwe’s greatest sports-persons, is neither a crime nor should it be used as an excuse for whipping emotions. This is irresponsible, wrong and frankly unacceptable.

The President praised and honoured Kirsty Coventry and encourages Zimbabweans to continue to respect and honour our heroic sons and daughters. People must desist from bastardising the use of local languages.

The point that the President makes is that the addition of Kirsty and Ncube in a cabinet led by an illegitimate president, will not be enough to rig ZANU PF’s way into legitimacy.