'I'm not junior,' says Mphoko

Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday said he was equal to his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa as the former diplomat sought to assert authority after his surprise appointment last December.  

Mphoko was appointed as a direct replacement to the late Vice-President John Nkomo to represent-PF Zapu in the unified ruling Zanu-PF party.

His appointment was discredited by former PF-Zapu members who argued that he deserted the party led by the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo before and after independence.

PF-Zapu representatives beginning with Nkomo have always been referred to as second vice-presidents in Zanu-PF, but Mphoko appeared to take exception to that when he was introduced by Psychomotor minister Josiah Hungwe at a lecture at Great Zimbabwe University.  

Mphoko, who is also National Healing minister, was delivering a lecture at the institution when Hungwe introduced him as the second VP.  

Hungwe, a perceived staunch Mnangagwa supporter who once likened the VP to Jesus Christ, referring to him as the "Son of Man", asked Mphoko to stand up during the introductions.

He showered the former ambassador to Botswana with praises, likening him to the biblical Moses.