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in Matabeleland following remarks by its secretary general Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga that some Cabinet ministers from Matabeleland are just useless “condoms” who have sold out the region.
Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga, who is the Minister of Regional Integration and International Co-operation in the Inclusive Government, was quoted in the Sunday News yesterday as having lashed out at Cabinet ministers.
She was quoted at a Bulawayo Agenda organised public debate in Bulawayo on Friday as saying some of the region’s ministers have been “condomised” and “sold out the region for money and power”.
Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s sentiments have sparked an outrage from leaders from other political parties, especially Cabinet ministers in the region who felt the remarks were ill-placed and showed that MDC was losing the plot.
In the morning Chronicle offices were inundated by calls from people who said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga had become “confused and controversial” that she was now predictable whenever she took to the podium.
In separate interviews, some Cabinet Ministers who were interviewed said the MDC was focusing on degrading individual people’s characters at the expense of real issues affecting the electorate on the ground.
They said the MDC pot was boiling such that its leaders were finding it difficult to stand the heat and now venting their anger on everyone.
Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said the choice of the condom as an image was a true reflection of some practices taking place within MDC.
“Why of all things would she choose the condom? Such vulgar language should not be coming from an Honourable Minister like her and that shows the kind of a party she is coming from,” said Minister Nyoni.
“Time has come for us as leaders to lead by example even with the language we use. A true leader strives to find solutions to challenges instead of just insulting others. We have no respect for such a leader and such talk does not take us anywhere politically.”
She has a huge responsibility as a Minister responsible for raising money for the country. Instead she should be coming and saying this is what I have raised for reviving Matabeleland,” she said.
Minister Nyoni said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga was ill-advised and could not come to Matabeleland and dictate what needs to be done.
She said such hate speech was fuelling divisions and retarding development of the country.
“What right does she have to come and criticise people in their own region? We are tired of such people who come and fuel hatred. A true leader should lead by example and articulate a clear vision and strategy to be emulated by the electorate
“It is very unfortunate that she is acting outside Cabinet procedure and talking about Cabinet issues outside, which is not allowed.
“This does not surprise us because it is now their culture of never appreciating any good thing done by other people. What I can say to the electorate is that some of us are available, but we cannot sing praises for ourselves and blame others. A true leader does not gain power through hate speech and should lead people somewhere and not to anger and frustration like what she is doing.”
The ministers said it was not for the MDC or Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga to judge other leaders, as that was the duty of the electorate.
Minister of Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga should know the position of Cabinet ministers from the region for her to speak from an informed position.
Minister Mpofu said she could be targeting certain ministers so she should stop painting everybody from the region with the same brush.
“I cannot comment on hearsay, but she knows as you also know our position as leaders in Matabeleland. I am the one who raised the issue of marginalisation and everybody knows what I have done for the region. She might have had her targets,” he said.
Minister of Water Resources and Development Samuel Sipepa Nkomo who was at the meeting where Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga made her remarks, said she probably was no “longer in her senses”.
Minister Sipepa Nkomo said Cabinet ministers from the region had worked extra hard in unison to build the economy.
“That is not a talk from a sane person. She could have used other words than to liken people to condoms. That is only said by insane people, whatever she wanted to say she should take note that all ministers like Minister Mpofu, Minister Nyoni, Minister Gabbuza Joel Gabuza and even Minister Ncube have done a lot for the region in unison.
“In fact she is talking crap, she does not even know Matabeleland and she wants to come and incite people here to fight the leadership. She and her party are busy attacking individuals yet there are issues to be dealt with.”
The Minister of Public Works Mr Gabuza said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga should not be taken seriously.
“I do not know what she meant, but that is her own opinion. It is for the people to judge us. I do not think a real leader would talk in that language and do not remember any project that was thrown back because we refused to ratify it on tribal grounds. Cabinet decisions are by consensus and I do now know where she gets her briefings from,” said Mr Gabuza.
“The truth of the matter is that she should not be taken seriously because she and her party are an angry and frustrated lot because of what is happening in their party. They have a lot of internal problems,” he said.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter