The plaque was uncovered on Wednesday at a ceremony to rename an army barracks in central Harare after Josiah Magama Tongogara, a hero of Zimbabwe’s independence war.Watch the video below and the reaction from various social media users
In a video of the incident shared widely on social media, President Emmerson Mnangagwa draws aside the curtains to reveal the new plaque, as Tongogara’s widow, Angeline, stands beside him. He reads through the brief information until he gets to the spelling mistake – Zimbabwe misspelt as “Zimbawe”. Immediately, Mnangagwa turns around and summons the army chief of staff, Douglas Nyikayaramba by his first name.
The major general rushes forward, salutes, looks a bit sheepish and promises to correct the mistake.
Mnangagwa then laughs and shakes hands in turn with the officer, Angeline Tongogara and the defence minister and moves off.
Zimbabweans have been impressed by their new president’s handling of the mistake, which could have been missed by a cursory reading of the plaque. Some on social media are hoping he’ll run his government the same way – quickly calling attention to mistakes.
The barracks had kept its name, KGVI, since before independence, in commemoration of the former British monarch, George VI. Three other army barracks around the country are due to be renamed.
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Watch as Mnangagwa spots the spelling error on the Tongogara barracks plaque and calls Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba.
With him is Mrs Angeline Tongogara.
(Vid: DailyNews) pic.twitter.com/Y8vV1hlweFhahaha Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba stood there with that smile like a school kid who has been summoned to the front of the class to explain their mistake.u feel hot shy scared and wana cry
Check out Mrs Tongogara #Awkward LOL – well handled ED. It would have been worse if you hadn’t noticed. https://twitter.com/ZimMediaReview/status/938369911545581568 …
One can only wonder whether #EDMnangagwa ‘s tenure as president will be a perfect one or tainted with too many errors. I believe a real President should be a perfectionist who does not tolerate any silly mistakes.
So, a whole President should now be spellchecking plaques?
Watch as Mnangagwa spots the spelling error on the Tongogara barracks plaque and calls Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba.
With him is Mrs Angeline Tongogara.
(Vid: DailyNews) pic.twitter.com/Y8vV1hlweFWill be happy if he summons all the incompetent ministers like this when they fail to deliver.
When the Matebeleland people raise issues with mispelt Ndebele words they are called Tribalists. The same doesnt apply when its a Shona word. Eish this Zimbabwe!!