AILING Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister, Shuvai Mahofa, on Tuesday failed to inspect a guard of honour mounted for her and had to read President Robert Mugabe’s Defence Forces’ Day speech while seated during celebrations held at Mucheke Stadium.
Source: Ailing Mahofa fails to inspect guard of honour – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 11, 2016
BY TATENDA CHITAGU
Psychomotor minister Josaya Hungwe stood in for her and inspected the guard of honour, just as he did during Independence Day celebrations in April this year.
Mahofa yesterday confirmed that she has not yet recovered, but said she will soldier on.
She has been unwell since December last year soon after the Zanu PF conference held Victoria Falls, amid reports of suspected food poisoning.
She later spent almost three months admitted at a private hospital in South Africa, with close family members saying she had chronic heart and kidney problems.
The Zanu PF “Iron Lady” of Masvingo also missed Mugabe’s belated birthday celebrations held at the Great Zimbabwe Monuments in March, as she was bedridden.
Also nicknamed “Chikoforo” because of her hard-line character, Mahofa sent tongues wagging ahead of the party’s conference after she rejected First Lady Grace Mugabe’s presidential bid, saying she only recognised her as the women’s league chairperson and wife of the President.
Grace is locked in a bitter succession war with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction — which Mahofa reportedly belongs to — to replace Mugabe, who is in his twilight years.
Both Grace and Mnangagwa have denied leading any factions.
COMMENTS
She is possibly the ugliest person on this planet, with morals and integrity to match.
Must be all the stress of coordinating all that rhino poaching.
This could not have happened to a nicer person.