It never rains but pours, it’s not just pain but thorns, for Kazembe Kazembe; previously in trouble with former first lady Grace Mugabe, the man who has neither surname nor firstname has fallen into hot soup with Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife. The tale is perhaps lyrically told that Kazembe has fallen from God’s Grace into an auxiliary of fire: the experience told of by state residence employees who say- we once had a first lady who used to verbally scold us at podiums, but this new one, she physically bashes us. – COMMENT

Paul Nyathi|First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s family fun day at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura was poorly attended amid fears that the event could have fallen victim to Zanu PF factional fights for control of Mashonaland Central province.

The programme, which had been scheduled 10am, started three hours later with mostly schoolchildren and a few bussed Zanu PF supporters in attendance.

According to ruling party insiders, the First Lady took almost two hours grilling Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga and chairperson Kazembe Kazembe behind closed doors, accusing them of failing to properly mobilise people for her event.

“Mnangagwa was not happy with the attendance and she took Mavhunga and Kazembe to task for failing to mobilise supporters to her event. She allegedly fumed as she compared her poorly attended events with those of the former First Lady Grace Mugabe which were fairly attended,” the source said.

Both Mavhunga and Kazembe could not be reached for comment after the event.

Emmerson Mnangagwa has on two occasions cancelled his scheduled rallies in the province and has not visited the province since last year’s general election, amid reports of wide rifts emerging within the party’s top leadership.

In her brief address, the First Lady said the event was meant to promote economic development through sport tourism and diplomacy.

“Mnangagwa was not happy with the attendance and she took Mavhunga and Kazembe to task for failing to mobilise supporters to her event. She allegedly fumed as she compared her poorly attended events with those of the former First Lady Grace Mugabe which were fairly attended,” the source said.

Both Mavhunga and Kazembe could not be reached for comment after the event.