Like the proverbial cat with nine lives, Energy Mutodi, who is now the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has remained standing despite the
political heatwave that claimed several scalps, a state run daily paper has reported.

“I am a principled man who will not vacillate when I strongly believe in something,” said Mutodi in an interview recently.

Turning to the controversial issue of the mug that drew daggers from the G40 cabal amid allegations of setting up the succession agenda, Mutodi said the mug was the climax of his political activism.
“Its (mug) presentation with His Excellency Cde Mnangagwa was a stage to mark the point of no return and to ensure that the then Vice President would take over the
reins and be leader of the country.”

He said while it was a risky thing to do for the then Vice President and for himself, Mutodi said it was a necessary decision to take because it alerted the people on the possible replacement for the office of the
President in the form of Mnangagwa.
“We demonstrated hard work, loyalty,
persistence and determination to work for the country,” he said.
After the picture went viral, a tumultuous season was to follow, which was marked by serious witch-hunt from the G40 members eager to thwart Mnangagwa’s ascendancy.
“It was during that time that I realised that power was not going to be transferred smoothly and in a friendly manner, so I predicted a hostile takeover of power.

“The former President had already indicated that he preferred Sekeramayi (Sydney) as his successor. But then we realised that
resistance for a Mnangagwa ascendancy was really as a result of hate and unfair discrimination.

“It would really appear that those
‘unconquerables’ were really entrenched if Cde Mnangagwa was not given a chance

said.State media