The Sunday News
CHIEFS have hailed President Mugabe for elevating freedom fighter and the revolutionary party’s legal supremo Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa to the position of Zanu-PF second secretary and First Vice-President.
Speaking at family celebrations held at Vice-President Mnangagwa’s rural home in Mapanzure village in Zvishavane recently, President of the Chief’s Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira said the newly appointed Vice-President was a humble, dedicated and loyal man who has been consistent since the attainment of independence in 1980.
Chief Fortune Charumbira said chiefs were solidly behind Cde Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF.
“We would like to congratulate Cde Mnangagwa for becoming the party’s second secretary and the country’s first Vice-President.
“We want to thank President Mugabe for appointing him as the new Vice-President. He is a humble man. He has been consistent in his work and has been patient. Today he has been rewarded for his loyalty to the party and patience.
“Our message to Cde Mnangagwa is that he must continue serving the party and the country. He now has bigger responsibilities than before,” he said.
Meanwhile, the surviving members of the former Zipra High Command and Field Commanders have congratulated Cde Phelekezela Mphoko for being appointed second Vice-President.
“We former Zipras feel proud that a descendant of one of King Lobengula’s commanders, Mthini Mphoko, one of the First Cadres of the office of Special Affairs, one of the first Cadres to go for military training in the USSR, one of the commanders of the joint Mkhonto Wesizwe (ANC) and Special Affair forces (Zapu) joint command for the 1967/68 Wankie Operations, a founder member of Zipra and its first Chief of Logistics, a commander of the Joint Military Command (JMC) that combined Zipra and Zanla forces in 1971, a regular delegate of the Patriotic front conferences, a founder member and a member of the High command of (Zipra/Zanla forces ) Zipa in 1975, has been appointed to such a high office of the land,” the former members of the Zipra high command said in a statement.
