State Media

TWO senior Zanu PF officials are in quarantine in adherence to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines after attending a global conference in Tanzania recently.

The top officials are Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu and the Secretary for External Affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, who are both members of the Politburo.

Briefing Politburo members in Harare last week, President Mnangagwa said that Mpofu and Mumbengegwi were in self-quarantine, and therefore could not attend the meeting.

“The party’s Secretary for Administration Dr Mpofu and his counterpart Cde Mumbengegwi could not make it to this Politburo meeting today (Wednesday) because they are in self-quarantine after they visited Tanzania recently,’’ said President Mnangagwa.

Mpofu was part of a delegation that attended the recently ended conference for global political parties where he was representing Zanu PF. He confirmed that he was under self-quarantine at his home.

Speaking from his base in Nyamandlovu, where he is in self-quarantine, Mpofu said although life in isolation was not easy, the measures were necessary to curb the spread of the pandemic.

“It is not easy to stay away from the people you love, but when you love them that much, you keep your distance for their safety. I tested negative on arrival and I am waiting for a second test after eight days,” he said.

Mumbengegwi also confirmed that he was in self-quarantine and doing a lot of reading.

“I am in self-quarantine at home here in Harare. I am just following the WHO guidelines. We don’t want to take chances. I am doing a lot of reading,’’ said Mumbengegwi.