Grace Mugabe suburb mooted

Politics
SENATE President Edna Madzongwe has said a suburb must be named after First Lady Grace Mugabe in the Lowveld, as senior Zanu PF officials continue trying to outdo each other in an effort to curry favour with the First Family.

SENATE President Edna Madzongwe has said a suburb must be named after First Lady Grace Mugabe in the Lowveld, as senior Zanu PF officials continue trying to outdo each other in an effort to curry favour with the First Family.

Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent

Speaking at a gala organised by the Zimbawe Amalgamated Housing Association (Zaha) in Chiredzi’s Chishamiso Stadium in Hippo Valley on Saturday, Madzongwe, standing in for Grace as guest of honour, said land should be provided for the construction of a suburb named after the First Lady.

“There is need for the creation of a housing scheme in Chiredzi, where a farm will be allocated to Killer Zivhu’s Zaha which will be named after Grace Mugabe,” she said to chants of approval from the guests.

Since her entry into mainstream politics, Grace has been the recipient of unrestrained fawning from Zanu PF members, who hope this could guarantee them positions in the party.

Speaking at the same function, newly-appointed Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa threatened sugar producing company Tongaat Hullet with closure for failing to adhere to the country’s indigenisation laws.

The threats come after accusations by top Zanu PF officials that the company — which employs about 10 000 people – was funding a plot by some members in the party to oust President Robert Mugabe.

“For Tongaat to be in Zimbabwe they should follow government rules because we can close it,” she warned.

“I can stop it any time.”

Recently, Tongaat reportedly spurned the government’s $30 million loan request to fund the completion of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam.

Zanu PF officials, Mahofa included, last month demanded that the company cedes 20 000 hectares to be given to indigenous farmers.

Tongaat is among companies from Masvingo that are yet to contribute money to the Community Share Ownership Trusts.

Mahofa, who replaced former Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, fired for his alleged links to axed Vice-President Joice Mujuru, said she was ready to settle land disputes in the province as well as chieftainship wrangles.

She revealed that 18 000 Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims housed in Nuanetsi Ranch were to be moved to Chiumburu Farm in Chiredzi.

Zanu PF legislators believed to be aligned to Mujuru-dubbed “gamatox faction”, among them former provincial chairperson Callisto Gwanesta, were embarrassed at the function, with both Madzongwe and Mahofa urging them to repent.