Zimbabwe’s two Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko are working harmoniously and President Robert Mugabe is happy because he has never had it so good his spokesman George Charamba said yesterday.
Charamba also dismissed speculation that Mnangagwa is boycotting First Lady Grace Mugabe’s rallies saying that the two Vice-Presidents could not both be away as Mnangagwa had to attend to Parliament because he is the leader of government business.
He was responding to media reports that there was increased tension between Mphoko and Mnangagwa and that Mphoko has overtaken Mnangagwa since he had been given additional responsibilities of supervising policy implementation and government ministers.
The reports also said Mnangagwa had shunned Grace’s rallies because of bad blood between the two.
Charamba said Mnangagwa and Mphoko had been assigned specific roles. Mnangagwa was in charge of the resource mobilisation in and outside the country and spearheaded investment while Mphoko was assigned the oversight role on implementation of government programmes.
“In terms of the two assignments, no assignment is too small or too big as both are complementary and of mutually reinforcing importance,” Charamba told The Herald. “It has never been this smooth for the President. He feels assisted, he feels the burden of governing is getting lighter, thanks to the two VPs who are working harmoniously in a non-rivaled fashion and with amazing diligence. The President is happy.”
Mnangagwa did not attend the First lady’s two recent rallies because Parliament was in session and Mnangagwa had to handle government business.
“Parliament is in session and Vice President Mnangagwa is the leader of government business in the House. It wasn’t possible for the Vice President to be with the First Lady. In any event let it not be forgotten that at the first meeting of the Women’s League in Kadoma both Vice Presidents were there and VP Mnangagwa took a leading role. Even today (yesterday), VP Mnangagwa had to leave Cabinet going to Parliament,” Charamba said.
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