VPs slug it out in Tsholotsho

Vice-Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mphoko took their duel for superiority to Tsholotsho on Sunday where they took turns to outdo each other at a rally to drum up support for Information minister Jonathan Moyo.
Vice-Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko
Vice-Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko

Vice-Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa took their duel for superiority to Tsholotsho on Sunday where they took turns to outdo each other at a rally to drum up support for Information minister Jonathan Moyo. BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Poor Mbiriya Primary School and the surrounding community came out richer after hosting the tug-of-war battle.

Moyo, the Zanu PF candidate in the Tsholotsho North parliamentary by-election tomorrow, has hailed the joint rally by the feuding Vice-Presidents as historic

The former Tsholotsho independent MP has been trumpeting the fact that Sunday’s event was the only time Mphoko and Mnangagwa had shared the podium during Zanu PF’s frenetic campaign to grab the 16 seats on offer tomorrow, but Mphoko and Mnangagwa seemed to be going against the script

Mnangagwa and Mphoko are reportedly locked in a turf war with Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to South Africa and Botswana eager to prove that he is not junior to the Justice minister.

Zanu PF pulled all stops to present a unified front in Mbiriya ahead of the polls in one of the constituencies where its candidate is almost assured of victory against little known independents, but the “cold war” between the two Vice-Presidents threatened to spoil the party.

The drama started when Zanu PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere asked Mphoko and Mnangagwa to respond to Moyo’s pleas for more food handouts and boreholes in the improverished constituency.

Mphoko was quick to seize the opportunity and promised government would address the problems.

Mnangagwa said he had no comments. However, before the official formalities were conducted at the main rally, Mphoko sprang to his feet and demanded a microphone from the master of ceremonies.

“Can I have the microphone? Where are the school kids? I want them to entertain us with sprint races and the winners will get $50 and the losers $10 each,” he said to applause.

Many thought that was going to be the only race, but Mphoko was at it again when he asked for more sprint races. The races were for school children from Grade 0 to secondary pupils and even grannies.

Mnangagwa was not about to be outdone and had to dig into his pockets to dole out more prize money.

Mnangagwa was the first to address the gathering. In his speech, he responded to all issues that had earlier been raised by Moyo, pledging government commitment to develop the region.

However, Mnangagwa said that would only happen if the constituency voted for Zanu PF.

“We must come together and be united as a people and Tsholotsho should not be found outside the family of rulers, the family of Zanu PF that will continue ruling this country,” he said

“Your complaints go to those in power and not those outside power.”

Before he finished his address, he donated $5 000 towards Mbiriya Primary School

Mphoko refused to speak after Mnangagwa’s address despite earlier appearing to be in the mood to drum up support for Moyo. “As I was once a commander in the army, I am not used to talk too much,” Mphoko said.

“My counterpart has donated $5 000 for the development of the school, but I will build you a classroom block.”

He donated soccer balls and pledged to sponsor a singing competition among schools in the area to the tune of $1 000.

Mphoko refuses to be referred to as second VP and last month had to correct Pyschomotor minister Josaya Hungwe in public after the Masvingo strongman introduced him as junior to Mnangangwa.

It was the first time the two had addressed a rally together since President Robert Mugabe appointed them to the lofty positions in December 2014.