'MDC-T rotting from the head,' says Mnangagwa

JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday claimed in the National Assembly that the MDC-T, was "rotting from the head" as indicative of the problems they were experiencing.

Mnangagwa said this while responding to a question by Magwegwe MP Anele Ndebele (MDC-T), who wanted Mnangagwa to explain how his ministry would root out corruption

"Is our country by any measure run by a corrupt government, and how is it going to be rooted out given that a fish rots from the top?" Ndebele asked.

But, Mnangangwa replied: "The idea by the MDC-T that a fish rots from the head is an MDC-T posture and experience. Yesterday, they also spoke about a fish rotting from the head and I believe it is an experience which they have, and which Zanu PF does not have. They are concerned about a fish rotting from the head because as a party they are experiencing that."

Mnangagwa further referred to Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) as the "leader of the opposition", but was made to withdraw the statement after leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Thokozani Khupe stood to object.

Chamisa also challenged the assertion and Mnangagwa retorted: "Through perception, it is assumed you are the leader of the opposition, but now I am corrected that you are nobody."

On another question by Chamisa on whether the Criminal Law [Codification and Reform] Act would be amended in line with the new Constitution in light of continued arrest of journalists, Mnangagwa said journalists should also be accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi said work had started to capture all liberation war shrines' historical narratives and prisons where the country's leaders were jailed to make them tourist resort places.

"We have identified authors at institutions of higher learning and other interested stakeholders to identify surviving expert teams who are going to combine reconnaissance work, carrying of arms and contact signs where battles were fought during the struggle. We are talking to friendly governments including Iran who have made resource commitments on this work," Mzembi said.

Health and Child Care deputy minister Paul Chimedza said government experienced difficulties in maintaining mortuaries, after Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke (Independent) alleged bodies were rotting at mortuaries and relatives were made to remove them because mortuary staff could not stand the putrid smells.