Muchena's deputy, Jessie Majome made the charge after the minister dispatched the permanent secretary in the ministry, Sylvia Utete-Masango to read a speech at a function at which Majome was an honoured guest.
"This is a violation of government protocol. As the more senior official I should have read the speech, but this is how we have to work in the inclusive government," Majome said.
To avoid an embarrassing scene Majome eventually left the Zim-Build Women in Construction workshop early, for Utete-Masango to read the speech in her absence. This was much to the annoyance of delegates who wanted to engage the deputy minister on various policy issues.
Muchena could not be contacted for comment.
Despite the so-called power-sharing agreement, Zanu (PF) ministers have consistently refused to work with deputies from the MDC. President Robert Mugabe refused to appoint an MDC official to the position of deputy minister of defence. In response, MDC refused to have a Zanu (PF) member to deputise at the Ministry of Finance.
The President has also refused to swear in the MDC’s deputy minister of agriculture, Roy Bennett, reportedly because he is white.
Post published in: News