Mashonaland Central Zanu PF provincial chairperson,Kazembe Kazembe, has warned party members against tarnishing the image of the first family especially the first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa who hails from that province.
In an interview with the Zim Morning Post, Kazembe read a riot act to party members fanning factionalism and denigrating Auxilia Mnangagwa following her Angel of Hope family fun event in Bindura.
This comes amid reports the event was poorly attended and that some party members attacked the provincial leadership including the first family.
“This was not a political rally so attendance was perfect befitting a family fun day
“Amai (Auxilia Mnangagwa) is not a politician so let us not drag her into politics,” fumed Kazembe.
“I dont know where these party members are getting it wrong. Let us not mix politics with an event open to anyone across the political divide,” he said.
Kazembe, who was acting minister of sports, said the event was a sports one promoting healthy living and the people who attended it were happy.
“We did not expect to see all those people because it was not a rally.
“We are very happy with the attendants and we will never regret it. Some people in our party should be warned to desist from attacking leaders.
“We had a great event and as a party we want to thank Amai Mnangagwa, Angel of Hope and the local leadership for such an event.”
Kazembe also dismissed reports that his relationship with Auxilia Mnangagwa is at an all time low.
“I have never clashed with anyone and I don’t know why should people peddle fake news saying I am not in good books with the first family.”
“I am doing my duty as mandated and my principals are very happy.”
“I have absolutely no problem with the First Lady. The First Lady is the mother to the whole nation and she works with everyone across all political divides .
“I work very well with her and all my principals. I don’t know where all this is coming from. I’m not surprised because I know what social media can do. “
“This is all fake news being sponsored by political enemies. One wonders why they are putting the First Lady in all this. She came and had her family sports day which people enjoyed a lot.
“The local leadership was with her throughout the program, myself included.
“I’m not so sure where these fake news reporters are getting all this from.
“If anything we want to thank the First Lady for this wonderful program which brings together children, the elderly, men and women, the physically challenged, etc in the name of sports and good health,” said Kazembe.
“This event was a purely sports event which had nothing to do with politics. One wonders why people are politicizing it. It clearly shows there is a hidden agenda.
“This program has been going on in all the other provinces without being politicised
“This is Amai’s initiative to promote good health. It’s driven by Angel of Hope with the help from the Ministry of Youth, sport arts and recreation since it’s a sport based program meant to benefit the entire nation. The office of the minister of state coordinates the program given that it’s of national outlook.
” I was simply there on behalf of Minister Kirsty Coventry who was out of the country .
“I gave remarks on her behalf since I was the acting minister of sports, so where does politics come in.
Kazembe also said there are detractors who want to destabilize Mash Central.
“Why Mash Central ? The answer is very clear. However, we will bring sanity into the province. Those who are bringing the party into disrepute will be brought to book.
“They want to bring so much disorder into the province so that the party leadership will consider it a failed province so that they can bring in their preferred leader,” he said.