-as President orders Chadzamira, Mavhenyengwa to unite
MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO-President Mnangagwa has hinted that Chiredzi North MP, Roy Bhila who was fired after serving for only three months as Deputy Minister may bounce back anytime soon.
Bhilaa served for three months as Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce following his appointment after the August harmonised elections and was dismissed by President Mnangagwa for alleged corruption involving cement import licences.
The President said Bhila has done nothing wrong and his issue will be looked into very soon, when he made an impromptu visit to see his sister at his farm in Bikita last week.
“Regai tipedze dzimwe nyayadzisina kunyanya kupera, Bhila hauna mhosva, tichagadzirisa,” said President without elaborating to thunderous applause from the local Zanu PF leadership which thronged the farm as soon as they heard the sound of the motorcade passing through the ancient city.
Source who attended the gathering told The Midweek Watch that Bhila and Zanu PF Politiburo member, Lovemore Matuke were the first to arrive at the venue and had a closed door meeting with the President.
It is said Matuke begged the President to reinstate Bhila as he is one of the most hard working MPs and his constituencies garnered some of the highest votes (18 696) for Zanu PF in the last elections.
The sources said Bhila was literally on his knees begging the President for forgiveness.
In addition to the corruption allegations, Bhila found himself entangled in political controversy. Alleged secret recordings of him surfaced, where he expressed the belief that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, was gradually positioning himself as Mnangagwa’s successor.
“Bhila was fired for abusing cement import permits and attendant corruption activities associated with that. The issuance of those permits, which are money-spinning instruments, was accompanied by payment of facilitation fees for the personal benefit of the ministry’s officials and those that they work in cahoots with.
“Besides corruption, politics also contributed to Bhila’s dismissal. He was recorded telling the grassroots in his Constituency in Chiredzi North that Mnangagwa is on his way out and Chiwenga is coming in.
“He was specifically recorded as saying ‘mudhara haasina basa as power is shifting to Chiwenga and people are now aligning themselves with him.
“Chiwenga is the future,’ said a source.
This was viewed as an attempt to incite subversion and a revolt against Mnangagwa’s leadership.
Meanwhile, the President went on to thank the local Zanu PF leadership for trooping to his farm as soon as he arrived in Masvingo although they had not been invited.
He also paid tribute to the people of Masvingo for their unity and for organising the biggest star rally in history, where 124 000 supporters gathered in Zaka in the run up to the harmonised lections.
The President told the gathering that he instructed Matuke to bring Minister of Sate for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira and Zanu PF chairman, Rabson Mavhenyengwa to State House where he told them to unite and work together as they risked getting fired.
He said he did that as the two were pulling in different directions after the provincial elections which ushered in Mavhenyengwa and his allies into office.
“Mavhenyengwa aiiinda akadai, Chadzamira achienda akadai. Ndikati kuna Matuke vuya nevakomana vaviri ava kuSate House. Vakauvuya ndikavati kubva nhasi zvichienda mberi sevenzai mose makabatana.
“Ndikafona ikoko ndikahwa kuti hamusi kushanda mose, maparara, mose,” said President.
Mavhenyengwa and Chadzamira were not at the meeting as they were on holiday.
