MANICALAND Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene
yesterday walked out on Vice-President Emerson Mnangagwa at a State function in
Chipinge, claiming she had been belittled by Public Service minister Prisca
Mupfumira.
The drama took place at belated commemorations of World
Refugee Day at Tongogara Camp in Chipinge.
Tempers flared when Chimene attempted to board Mnangagwa’s
vehicle during a tour of various sites at the camp, and was allegedly elbowed
out by Mupfumira.
During the tour, Chimene made a formal complainant to
Mnangagwa.
But more drama was to follow after the tour, when Chimene
was asked to sit a distance away from Mnangagwa at the high table.
Feeling belittled, Chimene stormed out despite having a
slot on the programme, where she was expected to give welcome remarks.
Efforts to contact Chimene for comment over the incident
were fruitless after she was said to have left behind her mobile phone before
travelling to Chipinge.
Mupfumira was also unreachable, as her mobile phone went
unanswered.
“This is unprecedented. Chimene was claiming that she was
elbowed out by Mupfumira,” a top Zanu PF official, who witnessed the drama,
said.
“She then accused some officials of playing (Zanu PF)
factions at the function.
“She claimed she told the Vice-President that she was not
happy with how she had been treated.
“She left during the early stages of the programme.
“Everyone, including some people within and outside the
government, were left in shock.”
The official said the director of ceremony, Manicaland
provincial administrator, Edgar Sienza, could not explain why Chimene left, as
she was on the programme.
“We will have to convene a meeting soon so that we try to
unify the province.” newsday
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