…. ‘MDC people will not get Mnangagwa’s food’
Moses Ziyambi
Zanu PF Chiredzi West Member of Parliament (MP) Farai
Musikavanhu has defended his stance to deny opposition MDC members and
supporters access to government-run food aid scheme, saying people who did not
‘respect’ President Emmerson Mnangagwa did not deserve to benefit.
Musikavanhu has defended his stance to deny opposition MDC members and
supporters access to government-run food aid scheme, saying people who did not
‘respect’ President Emmerson Mnangagwa did not deserve to benefit.
Musikavanhu triggered a storm when he appeared in an
amateurish social media video addressing a small crowd of party supporters.
amateurish social media video addressing a small crowd of party supporters.
In the video, Musikavanhu vows to prevent MDC supporters and
Tongaat Hullett Zimbabwe employees that did not subscribe to the
government-aligned Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) from benefitting
from the programme.
Tongaat Hullett Zimbabwe employees that did not subscribe to the
government-aligned Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) from benefitting
from the programme.
He was referring to agricultural inputs that had been brought
by Mnangagwa during his visit to Chiredzi earlier in the week.
by Mnangagwa during his visit to Chiredzi earlier in the week.
Musikavanhu’s utterances come when the country is expecting
the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on food.
the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on food.
When contacted for further clarity on what he really meant,
Musikavanhu said he was unapologetic about his stance regarding the programme.
Musikavanhu said he was unapologetic about his stance regarding the programme.
“Yes, I cannot work with MDC leaders on a scheme involving
the President’s inputs. How do you expect me to work with people who do not
show respect for the President?” said Musikavanhu.
the President’s inputs. How do you expect me to work with people who do not
show respect for the President?” said Musikavanhu.
When asked how ordinary people in Chiredzi West and sugarcane
workers had shown disrespect for Mnangagwa, Musikavanhu could not provide a
satisfactory answer except say the media could go to his constituency and make
an assessment of how he related with the people.
workers had shown disrespect for Mnangagwa, Musikavanhu could not provide a
satisfactory answer except say the media could go to his constituency and make
an assessment of how he related with the people.
“You can go there and talk to them and find out how I work with
them. I have made clear that I cannot work with MDC leaders on the programme,”
said Musikavanhu, who is a former top executive at Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe.
them. I have made clear that I cannot work with MDC leaders on the programme,”
said Musikavanhu, who is a former top executive at Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe.
When asked if he would allow ordinary MDC supporters and
members to benefit from the programme, Musikavanhu said he could not promise as
he was not responsible for policy-making in the party.
members to benefit from the programme, Musikavanhu said he could not promise as
he was not responsible for policy-making in the party.
In the video clip which has since gone viral on social media,
Musikavanhu tells the sugarcane employees who are members of the Zimbabwe
Sugarcane Milling Industry Workers Union (ZSMIWU) that they should affiliate
with the pro-government Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) and shun the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)!
Musikavanhu tells the sugarcane employees who are members of the Zimbabwe
Sugarcane Milling Industry Workers Union (ZSMIWU) that they should affiliate
with the pro-government Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) and shun the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)!
“You know ZCTU belong to the MDC right? Being the umbrella
body? And you know ZFTU belongs to Zanu PF right? Being the umbrella body? I
therefore cannot be with you if you say you do not like ZFTU; that would be
giving the party and President Mnangagwa a hard time. As workers, the union we
have here is under the federation so if you say ZSMIWU is not under ZFTU, you
are saying down with Zanu PF!
body? And you know ZFTU belongs to Zanu PF right? Being the umbrella body? I
therefore cannot be with you if you say you do not like ZFTU; that would be
giving the party and President Mnangagwa a hard time. As workers, the union we
have here is under the federation so if you say ZSMIWU is not under ZFTU, you
are saying down with Zanu PF!
“We must be clear with one another because we are receiving
President Mnangagwa’s food. We have an MDC councillor here but he will not have
a bite on this one. This food that I have brought here will not be given to an
MDC person!
President Mnangagwa’s food. We have an MDC councillor here but he will not have
a bite on this one. This food that I have brought here will not be given to an
MDC person!
“When you are in ZSMIWU, you are mixed with those MDC
scumbags as workers, but here we are doing Zanu PF business. Stop corrupting
the party because of your greed for positions in ZSMIWU. I myself will never
sell-out the Zanu PF party. I actually quit my job so that I could represent
you,” Musikavanhu is seen saying!
scumbags as workers, but here we are doing Zanu PF business. Stop corrupting
the party because of your greed for positions in ZSMIWU. I myself will never
sell-out the Zanu PF party. I actually quit my job so that I could represent
you,” Musikavanhu is seen saying!
Ward 18 Chiredzi Rural District Council is represented by
Gilbert Mutubuki of MDC who released a statement criticising Musikavanhu for
politicising food aid and inputs purchased using taxpayers’ money.
Gilbert Mutubuki of MDC who released a statement criticising Musikavanhu for
politicising food aid and inputs purchased using taxpayers’ money.
I am worried with Chiredzi West MP F Musikavanhu’s utterance
over the weekend. He is clueless about how to represent our Constituency. We
are going to respond by approaching the office of the DA and PA. We are also
going to take legal action against Musikavanhu. I will represent anyone in my
Ward despite of his or her political affiliation,” said Mutubuki.
over the weekend. He is clueless about how to represent our Constituency. We
are going to respond by approaching the office of the DA and PA. We are also
going to take legal action against Musikavanhu. I will represent anyone in my
Ward despite of his or her political affiliation,” said Mutubuki.
