By Farai Dauramanzi
Dr Simba Makoni the leader of Mavambo.Kusile.Dawn (MKD) has accused the First lady Dr Grace Mugabe of paralysing government since her entrance into politics two months ago.
Speaking at a press briefing that was held on Tuesday 21 October 2014 at MKD’s head offices in Harare, Dr Makoni said that large numbers of government ministers, senior civil servants and other state functionaries have been on the First lady’s tow during her recent tour of the country’s 10 provinces.
The First lady was nominated to lead the ruling party women’s wing two months ago a post she is expected to assume in December at the ruling party’s elective congress. After her entry into politics, the First lady has since gone around the country on highly subscribed rallies that were concluded last week in Mashonaland East province.
“In this period, she has summoned different groups of leaders to her farm in Mazowe, and in the last ten days, she has criss-crossed the country, meeting the people. We have counted at least 8 ministers present at her every meeting,” said Dr Makoni.
Dr Makoni who is a former member of ZANU-PF and also served as a cabinet minister in President Robert Mugabe’s government but, reneged in 2008 and unsuccessfully contested elections for the presidency accused the First lady of using state resources during her recently concluded “meet the people” rallies.
“Yet, besides being the wife of the Head of State and Government, Mrs Grace Mugabe is not a state functionary. And the position and functions of “wife of the Head of State and Government” do not attract the focus and limelight that have attended to her over the past two months, nor demand the resources being deployed to her,” alleged Dr Makoni.
Addressing her “meet the people” rallies the First lady has strongly condemned corruption and factionalism among top officials in ZANU-PF to the extent of naming and shaming some in public. However, the MKD leader questioned the First lady’s authority in straying into what he termed the “territory of the head of State and Government.”
“Among her constant messages, Mrs Grace Mugabe is making negative assessments of the competence and performance of ministers, and threatening them with dismissal. According to her apologists, she is also re-defining the attributes, functions and roles of the Vice Presidency of Zimbabwe.”
Dr Makoni also questioned whether President Mugabe was an acquaintance to the First lady’s recent stsatements on matters of state and the government.
“Has he abdicated his responsibilities to the people of Zimbabwe, in deference to his wife? Is he condoning the disparaging remarks she is making about ministers he appointed, and who he supervises? We state here, even though it is apparent, that Zimbabwe is not a dynasty, and we call on the people of Zimbabwe, especially the leaders and other members of ZANU-PF, to resist the dynastisation of our country,” said Dr Makoni.
However, the First lady has stated that she was using resources that were sourced from the corporates and well-wishers such as businessman Phillip Chiyangwa to tour the country.
Photo credit: The Herald
