PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has distanced his principal and government  from leaked audios connected to Wicknell Chivayo, by  insinuating that the offensive name-dropping could have been a way to scare away other business partners following a fallout.

In the audios, a voice that is alleged to be that of Chivayo is bragging to have President Mnangagwa under his wings.

Responding under his X account that uses the pseudonym dhonzamusoro007, Charamba said  that such claims in the audios do not necessarily become true because they have been made .

He added that this smacks of a plot by detractors that is aimed at tarnishing the President’s name.

“WHAT INSANITY: You have business partners who dribble one another. In the ensuing fallout, one of them allegedly name-drops in order to scare away the rest.

On the whole, claims meant to intimidate others involved in a partnership so far away from the domain of Government, cannot be an issue for the President, his Office, or Government as a whole.

He called on the media to interview first Wicknell Chivayo, in order to authenticate the voice clip and to hear his side of the story?

“Why does one get the sense there is a determination to sow and cultivate mere tall claims whose relationship to the media-accused is yet to be proven, hoping that such claims will one day attach to the President, grow and mature into some nonexistent scandal enormous enough to trip him? Nothing can be more insane!”

Charamba added that that ZEC was an independent Commission protected by the law and no one should incite the Government into breaking the law by diminishing ZEC’s status as a legal persona.

“It enters into contracts as it sees fit, and in terms of the laws of the country. Government may not interfere in its decisions, without raising fundamental questions on the Commission’s independence.

“No one should incite Government into breaking the law by diminishing ZEC’s status as a legal persona.

“Besides, it cannot answer for itself. No one has approached it for a comment, in the current mad stampede to self-interview, and to become a self-appointed jury.

“Starlink is not a government parastatal and  Who it goes into partnership with is its business. Unless one is beside oneself, one cannot cite CDE Chivhayo’s deal with Starlink – whatever it is or amounts to – as evidence that he is being favored in the award and issuance of Government tenders.”

There is no Government in Starlink; there is no Govt tender either! His Excellency the President merely announced Government’s authorization of the service, after positive recommendations from a Cabinet Committee set up to advise Government on the prudence or otherwise of allowing the satellite service in the country.

By TARIRO MASUNDA

RESPECTED veteran opposition politician Murisi Zwizwai who was a senior official in the united CCC and one of the founders of the Movement for Democratic Change passed on this morning.

Senator Zwizwai is said to have succumbed to high blood pressure complications.

He was a deputy Minister of Information during the inclusive government.

Politicians across the political divide including President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba former CCC president Nelson Chamisa, and Harare mayor Jacob Mafume among others expressed their condolences on their X accounts.

#George Charamba

He was an excellent Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity under GNU, and during my time at the Ministry. We worked very well, even as we belonged to different parties. MHDSRIEP!!!!!!!

#Nelson Chamisa

“Have learnt with deep sadness on the passing of Hon Murisi Zwizwai in the early hours of this morning,” Chamisa said.

“We worked together from the early days of the struggle for change and freedom in Zimbabwe. He was affable, jocular, generous and jovial. My prayers are with the family and friends. RIP Murambwi.”

#Jacob Mafume

I have tears in my heart !A brother lost too soon. We laughed,we cried & celebrated together.Deeply hurt you still carried a smile.We tried to make good.We planned together, won together ,lost together. You did your part I am because you were (Ubuntu)

OPPOSITION politician  Nelson Chamisa has reiterated his commitment to a peaceful solution to Zimbabwe’s political stalemate including engaging President Emmerson Mnangagwa as meaningful progress was impossible on the back of disunity and successive disputed national processes including contested elections.

Chamisa said Zimbabwe was too beautiful and precious to be destroyed by flames of political disputes under his watch.

“Our beautiful country can never progress on the back of disunity and successive disputed national processes including contested elections.

We are acutely aware of the urgency of this matter and more importantly that there can never be any talk of 2028 or a viable and stable future for this country without resolving August 2023, the broken past, and disputed politics.

Chamisa said that there can never be any talk of future elections or a viable and stable future for this country without resolving the disputed August 2023 poll.

“It remains our hope and indeed your hope that all these concerns will be addressed with urgency and seriousness.

He said the peaceful route he had taken to seek all available remedies to resolve national issues was not a sign of weakness or a lack of other ideas and means but a strict commitment to amicably resolve the conflict.

“We have committed to a peaceful resolution of disputes and intend to exhaust all available peaceful remedies. As you are all aware, millions of you agree with this approach.

“On my part I am doing everything necessary, to the extent of God’s Will, to seek a lasting solution to the perennial challenges affecting our beloved country.”

He said has engaged all the stakeholders including the traditional and business leadership, civil society, political parties and the diplomatic community.

“In particular, I have also sought the mediatory role of the church leadership to help resolve the disputed elections and contested national processes, albeit, with handicapped progress.

 I have even numerously efforted engagement with the other presidential contender and he is aware of our point of dispute and the proposed way forward. We have also developed and shared our roadmap with all key stakeholders, which paper we are ready to make public in due course. 

“I therefore urge you to take an active role in peacefully determining the destiny of our country. I exhort you, fellow citizens, the intercessors, and the church, to continue to pray for a smooth and peaceful transition in our country. Stay the course, hold the fort, hold fast and stand involved. Stand ready. Change is upon us.”