The Sunday News
VICE-President Phelekezela Mphoko is a true revolutionary as has just been proven by the blatant attacks he received from a decorated reactionary in the name of Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, a senior politician has said.
“When you get attacked by a decorated reactionary it means you are a true revolutionary,” Dr Obert Mpofu told the Sunday News yesterday.
VP Mphoko, who is in charge of the Social Services and Infrastructure and Utilities cluster, met Dr Mpofu for more than two hours in Bulawayo yesterday where he assigned the Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister a number of tasks. The Vice-President has hit the ground running, interacting with ministers under his supervision and has vowed to ignore attacks from Dr Dabengwa and instead focus on service delivery.
In a statement to the private media last week, Dr Dabengwa accused VP Mphoko of having ditched Zipra at the height of the struggle, sentiments which have since been rejected by surviving members of the Zipra high command.
“Dabengwa is a political reject who only managed to garner 25 000 votes nationally. VP Mphoko is doing things that he (Dabengwa) failed to achieve as both a former minister and as a Zanu-PF Politburo member. His issues will not distract us.
“We discussed issues to do with the reconciliation of our people with the Vice President as our detractors have been taking advantage by trying to sway their support. He said we must not waste time trying to identify ourselves but serve the people. Those who try to be heroes at the expense of development will continue barking,” Dr Mpofu said.
“The region is fully appreciative of his appointment. We commend his Excellency for giving us a true patriot in the struggle and committed party member in Phelekezela Mphoko.
“There is a lot of work to be done in the region which he needs to attend to. Although he is a national leader, we feel that he has to attend to issues to do with the unity of our people.”
Dr Mpofu said instead of taking time to settle into his office, VP Mphoko had already started working for the betterment of Zimbabweans. He said this was testimony to the hard-working nature and hands-on approach the Vice President would have during his tenure.
The VP, Dr Mpofu said, would soon be touring the Matabeleland region where he will engage people at grassroot level on issues that are affecting them.
“He will be in charge of the sectors of Social Services and that of Infrastructure and Utilities. My ministry will be superintended by him and I have no doubt that he is the best man for the job.
“We spoke at length on the mobilisation of our people. Apart from his national duties he will be addressing issues in the region. He is quite keen to address these things. I will also be preparing a paper on some of the challenges. He has not taken time to settle in Government. He identified issues for me to address and other colleagues under his supervision. That to me is to be expected from a true leader. He is a hands-on leader,” Dr Mpofu said.
