Emotional Mphoko speaks on hotel stay

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko

Mphoko said this on Sunday while addressing journalists after handing over chicks to members of the Nketa community in Bulawayo.

His comments came as police swooped on protestors who were gathered at the Rainbow Towers to stage yet another demonstration against him. On Friday, riot police broke another demonstration at the same hotel where protestors held posters denouncing the VP who has stayed there for two years.

According to reports, Mphoko has refused to move to a mansion allocated to him saying it did not fit his “stature” and should be further improved on.

But an emotional Mphoko dismissed the reports as work of his enemies, saying that house must meet certain security standards before he moves in.

“First thing, I’m not corrupt. I don’t need anybody’s money. God gave me what I have. I’m 76 years old now. I don’t want President Mugabe’s position. He (President Mugabe) appointed me to be his vice after John Nkomo had died, I didn’t take anyone’s position. I didn’t take anyone’s wife, and I have my children, my home and my own life is God-given. It is corrupt people who are saying I’m corrupt,” said Mphoko.

He added: “As a family we run Choppies, it is a people’s shop. Our low prices have forced every retailer to reduce theirs. They can’t overcharge because people would opt for Choppies. They want to tell lies and say I’m corrupt as a justification so that when they go and attack Choppies, they would have misled people.”

“I know the people who are responsible. They know that I’m not corrupt. I have a very clean record throughout my life and that is the biggest problem they have. I don’t have any record of transgression. For them to carry out their plot they need to soil my name first but it won’t work.”

The VP said he moved to his current accommodation because it is a government hotel.

“The day I was appointed VP I moved from Meikles into Rainbow Towers. The Government has got shares there,” he said.

“People don’t know what they are talking about. The house that the state has bought for me is not even worth $3 million. It is $1 million and something. I live in a government hotel. It’s as good as staying in a government house. Tsvangirai is staying in a government house which is as good as staying at Sheraton.”

Mphoko said the can only move into his new house after it met certain security standards.

“The Presidency is an institution governed by strict security, strict protocol not anything outside that.” he said.

“People talk about things they don’t know. My Bulawayo house has been turned into a government house in the sense that protocol and security are demanding.”