Mugabe defends choice of ‘blundering Mphoko’ as VP

via Mugabe defends choice of ‘blundering Mphoko’ as VP – Nehanda Radio Mar 5, 2015

HARARE – President Robert Mugabe, in his interview with the state broadcaster dubbed “reflections at 91” defended his controversial appointment of the ever blundering vice president Phelekezela Mphoko.

Mphoko — who is proving to be a controversial figure — has plunged into the deep end and is now struggling to swim and has reportedly ruffled the feathers of Mugabe, through cabinet down to the lower echelons of the ruling Zanu PF party.

However Mugabe quickly explained the process he went through in selecting Mphoko ahead of others who include party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi and retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri.

“When Mphoko finally got hitched and when we appointed him, I had listened to lots of views from the people. Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, I was asking them and making comparisons,” said Mugabe.

“Some thought SK was going to get it, others said SK has no real history of the struggle. Some came in saying Mohadi, I talked to Mohadi, I talked to Mphoko, I talked to SK, I talked to Msipa, all those from the Zapu side and finally to me the man who had a good record in the past and a record which sustained his drive up to the end was Mphoko.”

Mugabe said after talking to the contenders and wide consultations, the race was narrowed down to Mohadi and Mphoko.

“It was Mphoko versus Mohadi. Mohadi when I asked him, he said Mphoko yes I agree, his instructor at one time but he said now he is Ambassador and I’m a Minister who has more experience, it’s what he said,” said the President.

“I told SK that no he was viewed by many as part of the gamatox thing, that he was very close to Mutasa and Mai Mujuru but we couldn’t just dump everybody, others we want to give a chance, we gave them a chance but we abolished the chairmanship as it was.

However Mugabe’s choice is turning into a Frankenstein’s Monster bound to destroy him as he continues to blunder and keep Mugabe on his toes each time he opens his mouth to speak.

During his tours late January, Mphoko touched on hot topics including the marginalisation of the provinces as well the 1980s Gukurahundi massacres in which as many as 20 000 civilians were killed largely by security forces during their operations against dissidents in Matabeleland and the Midlands regions.

The Gukurahundi topic torched a storm when Mphoko exonerated Mugabe claiming it was a Western conspiracy. This has angered victims and survivors of the atrocities forcing him to apologise or step down as the Vice president.

Ironically Mugabe, whom Mphoko is exonerating admitted that “it was a moment of madness” when he was asked about his views on the Gukurahundi.

Desperate to carve out a solid support base and a constituency for himself, Mphoko has resorted to populist rhetoric and reckless grandstanding to achieve his agenda.

In Bulawayo he drew loud applause from the capacity crowd that thronged the party’s Davies Hall headquarters in Makokoba when he told them that he would personally see to it that power and water utilities: Zesa and Zinwa are kicked out of the city.

During his maiden “Meet the People” tour, Mphoko tore into vending when he decried the vending practice which has apparently become a last resort for jobless citizens in both urban and rural areas.

“I have got my own views regarding vending where you find an able-bodied man seated selling tomatoes. There are better things to do for someone who is fit except for those who are indisposed and physically-challenged. You should wake up and see what you can do for a living. We cannot tolerate a man who is fit, sitting down and selling tomatoes. No, let’s do something better,” he said without suggesting an alternative,” he said.