Grace Mugabe leave Mphoko with egg on his face

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe on Friday said Emmerson Mnangagwa is second to Mugabe, leaving the other core-vice president Phelekezela Mphoko with egg on his face before he left the stage in a huff, reportedly for security reasons.

Mphoko, who has largely become Grace's chief aide introducing the First Lady at most of her rallies, suffered two embarrassing moments during the rally after he was called "Mboko", a derogatory Shona word for "fool", by Midlands acting vice-chairman Kizito Chivamba.

Mphoko did not take it kindly and called Chivamba on stage and told him before a bemused crowd that he did not merit his position.

"You do not deserve to be party chairman - I am serious about this. You called me ‘Mboko', when my name is Mphoko. Do you know what that means? Do you speak Shona properly?" he said, while holding Chivamba by the shoulders.

Grace then handed Mphoko another blow when she asked him why he did not know her totem.

"You taught us today that people can be disciplined in public, so let me also discipline you. How come you don't know my totem up to this time? I am of the Shoko (monkey) clan," she said jokingly to the amusement of the crowd.

Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba said Mphoko had to leave early since he had come by road and because of security reasons he had to leave before the function was over.

Grace travelled to the venue accompanied by Mnangagwa in the presidential helicopter, while Mphoko went by road.

Thousands of people attended the rally after being bussed from as far as Kwekwe, some 350km away, to brave the heat with temperatures soaring to over 38 degrees.

Police had to be called for crowd control, as people began to walk away while Grace was still addressing party supporters.