Biti party: Mphoko proves he’s a fool

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko

The vice president had largely ignored widespread criticism of his two-year stay at Rainbow Towers after reportedly rejecting, as not good enough, homes used by his predecessors even after million dollar renovations had been carried out.

But Mphoko opened up recently, and was reported as suggesting that he was entitled to stay to a little luxury at the expense of the State having lived rough for years while fighting in the liberation struggle.

He also blamed the criticism on political rivals and appeared to suggest that government was not paying for his board, claiming the administration owns the hotel.

However, the PDP mocked Mphoko’s response in a statement Tuesday.

Said the party: “It was Mark Twain who once said – ‘It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt’.

“This clearly applies to VP Mphoko’s response to his unjustified stay at Rainbow Towers Group hotel for more than 554 days at a huge cost to a country whose economy is on the brink of a man-made fantastic collapse and where millions are facing hunger because of the leadership failure.

“In our view, VP Mphoko response is not only despicable, dishonourable, crass, selfish, untimely, uncouth, thoughtless but downright cheeky and unforgivable. His attitude reflects the very essence of the value system which we are all fighting against.

“A value system of lack of leadership accountability and unnecessary profligacy in the midst of poverty simply because one happens to be in a leadership position.”

The party said Mphoko’s liberation war sacrifice was no reason to take liberties with Zimbabweans.

“Our message to VP Mphoko as PDP is that thank you very much for sacrificing your time to briefly join the armed struggle before you absconded to Mozambique.

“We appreciate your sacrifice and that of many others who are unfortunately still living in poverty to this day, despite their selfless contribution to the first chapter of our fight for total freedom and emancipation.”

The statement adds: “However, that does not entitle you to anything else except our appreciation.

“That does not entitle you to waste our resources and claim that you alone are special. Many others contributed much more than you did and participated for the entire duration of the struggle and yet they are claiming nothing because they did it for the country and not for selfish ambition.

“Clearly there is something very wrong with regard to who qualifies to lead us. If a whole VP can justify that he must squander resources as payback for his suffering and even has the audacity to threaten to stay longer, then imagine how much is owed to the thousands who have not claimed anything for their participation in or contribution to the liberation struggle.”

A handful of activists have been arrested at the hotel in recent days protesting against Mphoko’s continued stay at the facility.

PDP said the vice president must leave the hotel, lamenting that his “warped sense of entitlement” was “unfortunately …a common trait especially within (the ruling) Zanu PF party”.

“In VP Mphoko, we have a VP who has added no value whatsoever to the country but insists on a lavish lifestyle funded by the sweat of the poor. That is unforgivable.

“Based in the public outcry to this unnecessary extravagance, we expect that Zimbabweans are certainly going to respond more directly to this insult and we at PDP cannot blame them. Enough is enough!”