Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa is conspicuously giving Vice President Kembo Mohadi time to take over most of his duties while he remains unknown where he is.

Mohadi who has throughout his tenure been a very dormant Vice President is suddenly a very busy man presiding over most of the presidential duties.

In the latest move, President Mnangagwa has appointed Mohadi to stand on his behalf in mourning and burying the late national hero Dumiso Dabengwa.

Speaking to Dabengwa family members and friends on Sunday, Mohadi said the President will not attend the burial and has asked him to fully represent him throughout the mourning and burial.

Some sources, however, indicated that Mnangagwa is chickening out of the burial in fear a very hostile reception and embarrassment from Matabeleland mourners who blame him for Dabengwa’s persecution shortly after independence.

The source said. “You will be aware that DD will be buried in Ntabazinduna and Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni will definitely be given a platform and his views on Dabengwa are known.

“Dabengwa worked closely with MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and Welshman Ncube meaning these guys will be given a platform to speak at the event. It is with that background that the President is considering not attending to avoid being booed and facing a hostile environment.”

The late Zipra supremo will be buried at his rural home in Manxeleni, Ntabazinduna on 1 June 2019. His body arrived at JM Nkomo Airport in Bulawayo on Monday 27.05.19.

The source added that ZAPU and former ZPRA  members were not happy with the way government had treated Dabengwa during Gukurahundi and known after his death where they sought to hijack his body so that it passes through Harare and ransported by Airforce of Zimbabwe.”