Mzembi reminded that he is not part of the Mnangagwa family

Despite surviving the brutal purge of alleged allies of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru in Zanu-PF, Tourism minister Walter Mzembi on Wednesday was reminded by a faction aligned to VP Emmerson Mnangagwa that he is not part of their family.

Mzembi was ignored at a function to enshrine Masvingo Train Station where Mnangagwa allegedly bombed a railway line and derailed a steam locomotive in 1962 during the liberation war against the colonial regime.

The site is expected to be soon declared a National Heritage with the hope of making it a tourist attraction.

During the enshrinement ceremony, Mzembi who as the Tourism minister was expected to take a prominent role was relegated to the back seats and was not given an opportunity to speak at the function.

Instead, Zanu-PF secretary for Environment and Tourism, Prisca Mupfumira, delivered a speech as Mzembi sat back in the crowd, seemingly feeling out of place.

Mnangagwa's wife, Auxillia, deputises Mupfumira in that party position.