BEITBRIDGE East legislator Albert Nguluvhe (Zanu PF) has
torched a storm in the border town after he posted a comment on social media
that has been interpreted as tribal and discriminatory.
The legislator posted a controversial comment on a WhatsApp
group called BB Livestock farmers, after a member of the group posted a photo
of new Beitbridge mayor Morgan Ncube shaking hands with his deputy Munyaradzi
Chitsunge while clad in mayoral regalia.
Local businessman, Elias Chibi then commented: “Funny town
led by foreigners”, to which Nguluvhe responded: “We will kick them out. This
is what happens when people do not vote with their minds.”
The comment went viral with scores of people in Beitbridge
taking to various social media platforms to vent their anger against the
legislator.
“We don’t tolerate tribalism. Let’s unite and build our
town guys,” posted Tshiswelo Nislon on Facebook.
Wrote Onward Nyandoro: “… from that high podium those comments
are out of order and dangerous. He has to swallow his pride and apologise
before this backfires.”
Blessing Choeni said: “This is hate speech.”
Writing on the same page, Alfred Maheya said: “This is
utter nonsense and disgusting.”
Persy Tlou also did not have kind words for the MP.
“Matsamwei mudhara. Musaita sebenzi (What has angered you
Sir? Don’t act like a fool),” he posted. Hundreds of other residents slammed
the MP over the unpleasant remarks.
Contacted for comment, the legislator admitted that he is
the one who posted the comment but denied that it was discriminatory.
“I am not a tribalist like the people are alleging. Two of
my daughters are married to Shona-speaking people, so I do not hate that tribe.
In fact, the people of Beitbridge town, about 5 000 of them, voted for me when
they are Shona-speaking, so I can’t hate them. What I was saying we must kick
out are MDC people, the mayor and his councillors and not the Shona people in
general,” Nguluvhe said.
Beitbridge is a cosmopolitan town and is Zimbabwe’s gateway
to South Africa, its largest trading partner. Newsday
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