By Tinoonga Mawere, Gutu | Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s absence at First Lady Grace Mugabe’s rally at Mushayavanhu High School has all but confirmed the perceived bad blood between the two Zanu PF heavyweights.
Mnangagwa whose key stronghold is the Masvingo Province, was expected to attend the rally but he was nowhere to be seen. Mrs Mugabe was accompanied by Vice Phelekezela Mphoko -who is now viewed as the First Lady’s apologist, Saviour Kasukuwere and other several senior Zanu PF officials .
While Mnangagwa bunked the much touted rally,there were fresh claims that Mrs Mugabe did not donate the plastic shoes she dished out at the rally but rather used funds raised by the Fushai Women’s project. Grace only ordered the shoes from China using the raised funds, reports say.
As usual Grace donated 200 tonnes of maize,180 tonnes of fertilisers ,3400 litres of cooking oil ,320 kgs washing soap and 268 pairs of plastic shoes allegedly bought using Fushai funds. The First Lady attacked Zanu PF politicians for bribing journalists to peddle falsehoods against her -a statement directed at her political foes -including her alleged nemesis Mnagagwa .
She also attacked NGOs for being used by Western countries to advance imperialist ideologies in the country.
“When NGOs come tell them to remove sanctions and not just bring food. Tell them that you want to work for yourself. The west assumed that if industries close down people would turn against President Mugabe. We know that some top Zanu PF officials are also paying journalists to write falsehoods and we will face and you have to explain yourself,” said Mrs Mugabe .
Fresh evidence has pointed out Mrs Mugabe only facilitated the purchasing of the plastic shoes and did not donate the goodies .
The First Lady’s call on the villagers to snub relief food from NGO has angered the local community since there is looming starvation in the area .