News / National
Mugabe bonding with Mphoko in Dubai
17 Jan 2016 at 08:19hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe invited his subordinate Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko to Dubai to ‘share notes and know each other as families'
Mphoko, who was acting-president since December 24 when Mugabe went on holiday, left Harare on Tuesday for Dubai together with his family to join his boss.
His counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa, who also flew to Dubai with his family and met with the president recently, is now acting-president.
Tabitha Malinga-Kanengoni, the Minister of State in the VP's office confirmed that Mphoko was in the Far East.
"Yes, he is on leave and in the Far East. What do you want to know? Don't call me so that I confirm and you write silly things," Malinga-Kanengoni said.
According to a Standard unnamed source who is a Zanu PF insider Mugabe had invited Mphoko.
"The visit to Dubai is at the invitation of the first family, just like the invitation, which was extended to VP Mnangagwa.
"He will join the president and they will have time to reflect, share notes and know each other as families.
"Politically, the president is balancing and trying not to divide the two."
Last week Friday it was revealed that First Lady Grace Mugabe blocked Mnangagwa from having private talks with her husband in Dubai over the festive season.
Mnangagwa was widely believed to be the front-runner to succeed Mugabe after the December 2014 sacking of his long-time rival former vice-president Joice Mujuru.
According to Zimbabwe Independent, Mnangagwa hired an expensive private jet to visit Mugabe, who is on annual vacation in Dubai, seeking to clear the air and possibly obtain assurances concerning his prospects of succeeding him.
Mnangagwa though, took his wife Auxilia with him and son Sean to Dubai where they dined with Mugabe, Grace, Mugabe's daughter, Bona, and her husband Simba Chikore as well as Mugabe's sons Robert Jr and Chatunga.
Mnangagwa's backers said he wanted to use the Dubai meeting to put his presidential ambitions back on track.
"However, he was never afforded that opportunity by Grace who steadfastly remained by her husband's side and never left him alone to allow for any private discussions to take place," said a source close to the First Family.
"Even the children, particularly Chatunga (Mugabe's last-born son), were ever present and the most Mnangagwa got out of the visit were the normal family dinners".
Mphoko, who was acting-president since December 24 when Mugabe went on holiday, left Harare on Tuesday for Dubai together with his family to join his boss.
His counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa, who also flew to Dubai with his family and met with the president recently, is now acting-president.
Tabitha Malinga-Kanengoni, the Minister of State in the VP's office confirmed that Mphoko was in the Far East.
"Yes, he is on leave and in the Far East. What do you want to know? Don't call me so that I confirm and you write silly things," Malinga-Kanengoni said.
According to a Standard unnamed source who is a Zanu PF insider Mugabe had invited Mphoko.
"The visit to Dubai is at the invitation of the first family, just like the invitation, which was extended to VP Mnangagwa.
"He will join the president and they will have time to reflect, share notes and know each other as families.
Last week Friday it was revealed that First Lady Grace Mugabe blocked Mnangagwa from having private talks with her husband in Dubai over the festive season.
Mnangagwa was widely believed to be the front-runner to succeed Mugabe after the December 2014 sacking of his long-time rival former vice-president Joice Mujuru.
According to Zimbabwe Independent, Mnangagwa hired an expensive private jet to visit Mugabe, who is on annual vacation in Dubai, seeking to clear the air and possibly obtain assurances concerning his prospects of succeeding him.
Mnangagwa though, took his wife Auxilia with him and son Sean to Dubai where they dined with Mugabe, Grace, Mugabe's daughter, Bona, and her husband Simba Chikore as well as Mugabe's sons Robert Jr and Chatunga.
Mnangagwa's backers said he wanted to use the Dubai meeting to put his presidential ambitions back on track.
"However, he was never afforded that opportunity by Grace who steadfastly remained by her husband's side and never left him alone to allow for any private discussions to take place," said a source close to the First Family.
"Even the children, particularly Chatunga (Mugabe's last-born son), were ever present and the most Mnangagwa got out of the visit were the normal family dinners".
Source - The Standard
