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Mnangagwa eulogises bitter succession rival as ex-VP Mphoko dies aged 84

By Political Correspondent & NewZianahttps://newziana.co.zw/
HARARE: Former State and ruling Zanu PF party Vice President Report Phelekezela Mphoko died Friday in India after a long illness.
He was 84 and was readily declared a national hero.
Mphoko exited power following the coup which ousted long-ruling autocrat Robert Mugabe who had run the country since independence in 1980.
The November 2027 military-assisted power transition resulted in then co-vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa taking over as leader of Zanu PF and state President.
Prior to the coup, Mnangagwa and Mphoko rowed bitterly over the former’s alleged attack by food poisoning at an August 2017 political rally in Gwanda after which he was airlifted to South Africa for treatment.
In a hard-hitting statement, Mphoko was part of the G40 faction rallying behind Mugabe’s wife Grace, said “Mnangagwa’s latest claim that he was poisoned in Gwanda cannot go unchallenged …
“There’s now little doubt, if there ever was any, that there appears to be an agenda to undermine the authority of President Mugabe and to destabilise the country by using lies to fan ethnic tensions for political purposes. This must stop and do so sooner rather than later.”
Responding, Mnangagwa said, “It is most disappointing that a person at the level of my colleague vice president Cde R. P. Mphoko would mis-understand and misrepresent the statements made by His Excellency, the President Cde R. G Mugabe and myself.”
The two would later bury the hatchet with Mphoko beginning to attend public events held by Mnangagwa beginning July 2023.
Meanwhile, in his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said the nation had been robbed of a dedicated and loyal cadre who had worked tirelessly and selflessly; first for its freedom from colonial rule, and later it’s development.
He said the late VP would be remembered as one of the key leaders in the armed struggle that was waged to free the country from British colonial rule in 1980.
In recognition of this role, the Politburo of the ruling Zanu PF party unanimously declared him a National Hero, the country’s highest honour, President Mnangagwa said.
“A veteran of our Liberation Struggle, Cde Mphoko’s political and military history coincides with the early days of militant nationalism against white settler colonialism which later morphed into the armed Liberation Struggle of which later he was among its early architects, brave fighters and crop of formative and outstanding commanders,” he said.
“With his sad departure, our nation has lost yet another stalwart of the Liberation Struggle whose contribution to our hard-won independence can hardly be over-stated,” he added.
Post independence, VP Mphoko held various key positions, including ambassadorships to Russia and South Africa, and ultimately second in command of the country.
He retired from government service in 2017. VP Mphoko is survived by his wife and children.
His illness was not disclosed.