Mphoko chants ‘Forward with Mujuru’

via Mphoko chants ‘Forward with Mujuru’ – DailyNews Live 16 May 2015

HARARE – Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday made a damaging faux pas when he made a slogan extolling former VP Joice Mujuru.

Sloganeering at a rally in Hurungwe West yesterday, Mphoko shocked delegates after he unwittingly chanted the slogan  “Pamberi na (Forward with) President Robert Mugabe! Pamberi naDr Joice!”

Just after blurting out the fatal slogan, he immediately corrected himself.

Apparently, the 74-year-old Mphoko intended to say “Pamberi naDr Grace Mugabe.”

“Pamberi naDr Joice! Eish! Pamberi naDr Grace Mugabe,” he said.

“We have been sent by the president to ask for your vote,” he continued.

“You are the ones who voted for (Zanu PF Hurungwe West candidate Keith) Guzah in the primary elections and please don’t dump him.”

The VP went on to make a passionate plea to Zanu PF supporters in a crowd that included school pupils in uniform, to vote for Guzah to save Mugabe from embarrassment.

“The provincial chairperson (Ziyambi Ziyambi) we should not embarrass the president by losing the seat. We can’t be defeated by (Temba) Mliswa,” said the garrulous VP.

Frantically trying to distance himself from Zanu PF ructions amid concerns that they are now numerous centres of power, Mphoko said he only acts on instruction of Zanu PF’s first secretary Mugabe.

Unwittingly exposing Zanu PF’s rigging modus operandi, Zanu PFs political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, told the rally the  June 10 election must compel all headmen to shepherd their subjects to the polling booths.

Mliswa was the major subject of scorn at the rally, as the ruling party heavyweights took turns to denounce their former legislator who is standing as an independent candidate.

Kasukuwere claimed that Mliswa, when he was MP, misused government funds. He claimed that instead of developing Hurungwe West, Mliswa diverted money towards “womanising” and personal use.

Mliswa was not immediately available to respond to the accusations last night.

“Anga asingapedze kuroora. Hatidi vanhu vanoita kunge mabhuru emudzimu. What did he do here in Hurungwe?” said Kasukuwere.

Among other top Zanu PF officials who attended the rally were Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa,  Labour minister Prisca Mupfumira, Senate president Edna Madzongwe and Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora.

There was a low turnout at the rally yesterday. Zanu PF  has employed a multi-pronged campaign strategy to retain the Hurungwe West seat.

The ruling party is drilling boreholes, constructing roads and promising manna from heaven for the Hurungwe folk.