Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is still being treated
in India contrary to social media claims that he is back in the country, a top
government official has said.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba yesterday
refuted claims that Chiwenga who was recently flown to India where he is
receiving treatment for a yet to be disclosed ailment had returned to the
country in hot haste following news that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had
purged his allies in the military.
In Chiwenga’s absence, Mnangagwa has purged top military
commanders suspected to be aligned to his ailing deputy in a move seen as
consolidating his hold on power amid reports of fresh factional fights in Zanu
PF.
Responding to the claims Charamba dismissed them as mere
speculation.
“You are following what you are reading on the social media
but what did the president (Emmerson Mnangagwa) say regarding that? That is the
same situation,” Charamba said adding; “you will be told if there is anything
to be told”.
This was after he was pressed to give an update on the
former Zimbabwe Defence Forces chief’s health.
Last Saturday, Mnangagwa told Zanu PF supporters at a rally
in Mwenezi, South of Masvingo that Chiwenga was still not back at work while
Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is also indisposed.
"As you can see, I have only Vice President Kembo
Mohadi to assist me, the other vice president, General Chiwenga, is not feeling
well.
“So, that is why he is not with us here. We thought it
would be important to officially make this announcement because these are our
senior politburo members.
“The national chairperson (Muchinguri-Kashiri) is also not
here. She had to receive her regular treatment for the injuries she suffered
during the bomb explosion.
When the bombing incident happened in Bulawayo…Chinomona
and…Mohadi also got injured, but it's good that we have them here," said
Mnangagwa.
His other deputy Mohadi has also not been well while
Mnangagwa is also not in the best of health after being poisoned in the bitter
succession struggle that rocked the ruling Zanu PF party before the November
2017 coup fronted by Chiwenga.
Chiwenga was whisked out of the country two weeks ago after
his health deteriorated.
“Deputy information minister Energy Mutodi claimed that
Chiwenga was being treated for a “stomach ailment” and was expected in the
country “soon.”
Muchinguri-Kashiri was injured in last year's pre-election
Bulawayo bombing incident and Mnangagwa said she had gone for
"check-ups". Daily News
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