#ThisFlag protests just 'a political fringe', claims Mzembi

Tourism minister Walter Mzembi has dismissed the popular #ThisFlag movement protests as "a political fringe" trying to take advantage of the worsening economy.

Pastor Evan Mawarire is the face of #ThisFlag movement that has rattled government and gone global.

Mzembi who is  currently in Rwanda with President Robert Mugabe told media that government will never collapse under a weight of any protests.

Mzembi dismissed the possibility that the 2018 elections would be brought forward. The government would "never call an election unless it is due," he said.

He also said the government would never be brought to a fall.

"It will never go in that direction because we know the cost of division for Zimbabwe," he said, "so we emphasise unity and cohesion".

According to reports Mzembi also dismissed the "hullabaloo" around the 10 days' late payment of salaries to civil servants, saying the government was like any business which sometimes experienced cash flow problems.

He said the late payment affected everyone in the civil service, including  President Robert Mugabe down to himself received the $100 transport allowance that was paid out to civil servants to help them get to work while they waited for their pay.