Chadzamira rubbishes reports of Hungwe tiff

Newly-appointed Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira has rubbished reports of a tiff between him and his predecessor, Senator Josaya Hungwe, whom he described as the "father figure" in the province.

Minister  Chadzamira, who is also Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair, was appointed Minister of State for Masvingo by President Mnangagwa, taking over from the long-serving Senator Hungwe, who had two stints at the apex of Masvingo leadership.

Senator Hungwe was absent during Chadzamira's fully-subscribed welcome ceremony held at the Civic Centre grounds last week sending the rumour mill into overdrive with reports of differences between the two Masvingo political heavyweights.

Some sections of the media here added fuel to the fire by insinuating that Senator Hungwe's absence from Chadzamira's welcome bash was a sign of deepening acrimony between the  two.

Chadzamira last week moved to downplay reports of an alleged rift with his predecessor saying all was in place for a cordial handover/takeover between the two this week.

"There is no tiff, none at all between myself and Senator Hungwe, Our relations are very good. To me and my colleagues in the party (Zanu-PF) and the province at large we see him as our 'father figure' and we have no problems at all.

"What happened is that Senator Hungwe was away on holiday in South Africa when my welcome ceremony was held and he only returned to the country yesterday (Wednesday), hence he could not make it.

"However, we are actually planning an official handover/ takeover sometime next week and that is when everybody will see that there is no bad blood between us. Senator Hungwe is our father," said Chadzamira.

The Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister said he will continue to work closely with Senator Hungwe during his tenure to tap into the former minister's vast experience as the President's ears and eyes in Masvingo province. Senator Hungwe also confirmed that he was unable to attend Chadzamira's welcome ceremony as he was out of the country.

"We will be having an official handover/takeover in the near future. That is when the world will know the truth," said Senator Hungwe.

Chadzamira became the seventh Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister since independence. Besides Senator Hungwe, others who once occupied that position are Mr Dzikamai Mavhaire (who was the province's first post-independence Governor), Willard Chiwewe, Titus Maluleke, late national heroine Shuvai Mahofa and former Health Deputy Minister Dr Paul Chimedza, who served in that position for less than 30 days last year.