Mnangagwa congratulates Mukupe despite calls for him to be fired

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has shown confidence on his beleaguered deputy minister of finance whom people have been making loud calls to be fired.

Mnangagwa congratulated Terence Mukupe in a text message.

Mukupe publicised a screenshot of a message by the Zanu PF leader and expressed his commitment to help him win the elections.

"I'm now on wings... Time to roll up our sleeves and win the election for my President EDM," Mukupe blogged in a message accompanying the message from Mnangagwa.

Mukupe has been in the eye of a storm with Zimbabweans calling for his head.

Recently he told a rally in his constituency that the military will not hand over power to MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa if he wins the forthcoming elections.

The pronouncements sparked loud calls as people pleaded with Mnangagwa to sack him.

However, it emerged that Mukupe is one of ED's trusted individuals in Zanu PF and has promised to mobilise college students' vote for Zanu PF.

It is reported that Mukupe promised Zanu PF leader 500 000 votes from students, lecturers and their dependents from the country's higher and tertiary training institutions.