Comedian feasts on Mphoko's hotel stay

LOCAL comedian Nqobizitha "Q The Boss" Dube on Saturday night feasted on Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko's continued stay in an upmarket Harare hotel at taxpayers' expense since his appointment as President Robert Mugabe's second-in-command in December 2014.

In a rib-cracking show held at Harare International Conference Centre, headlined by Uganda's queen of comedy, Anne Kansiime, Dube urged the delirious audience to put their hands together to thank Mphoko over his "generosity" to allow them to hold their comedy show in his living room, referring to the Harare International Conference Centre.

"I know many of you do not know what we are clapping for, but I want us to thank the Vice- President for allowing us to have this show in his living room," Dube said, pulling the auditorium's roof down with laughter.

"There are policemen and intelligence officers here, if I am arrested, we will be arrested together because you also laughed to the VP's joke," he said, leaving the audience in fits.

Last year, another comedian Sam "Cde Fatso" Munro of the hilarious outfit Zambezi News poked fun of Mugabe speech gaffe during the official opening of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament where the Zanu-PF leader read a wrong speech.

Mphoko has remained holed at Rainbow Towers Hotel's presidential suite for over two years since his appointment, after snubbing other upmarket houses acquired for him by government saying they were not fit for a person of his stature. He has reportedly given the thumbs up to another mansion identified in The Grange, but indicated he would only move in after it has been renovated to his taste.

His lengthy hotel stay has, however, triggered a public storm with rights activists demanding his immediate departure to help the cash-strapped government.

But Mphoko has scoffed at the protests, insisting he was entitled to stay at the hotel which he claims was partly owned by government.