The President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa has rebuked his Minister of Defense Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri for her comments about corona virus. Mnangagwa was forced to issue a statement after Muchinguri’s went viral and was reported by many news outlets.
Muchinguri’s Corona Virus – America and West Comments
Muchinguri was speaking on Saturday, at an event organised by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association (ZILWACO) in Chinhoyi.
She is qouted saying, ” Corona Virus yauya iyi, maSanctions aya auya kune dzimwe nyika dzinotiisira maSanctions. Vaakuswera vari mudzimba hakuna kwekuenda. Economy yavo yavakuchema. Trump ngaazive kuti haasi Mwari. Vanotisvina kuti tiendepi, chimbosvinwaiwo munzwe kurwadza kwazvinoita.”
The English translation from Shona: “This corona virus that has come to other countries. These are sanctions that have been imposed by God on them. Now they are staying indoors. Their economy is bleeding. Trump should know that he is not God. The squeeze us so that we can go where? They should also be squeezed so they can feel the pain we feel.”
How the world reacted to Muchinguri’s comments
Lets see how the main news agencies in world reacted. News24 in South Africa posted the headline: Coronavirus ‘god’s punishment’ of west: Zimbabwe defence minister. In the article they lambasted Zimbabwe’s lack of preparedness and its mismanagement of the economy. eNCA also reported the same. Their posts on social media where followed by anger from their followers. They are not happy that Zimbabwean authorities are not taking corona virus seriously. They are also not happy because South Africa currently houses more than 2 million Zimbabweans which is causing serious competition for jobs. “The same people who are mismanaging the economy are also misleading people,” commented one follower. Some called for the deportation of Zimbabweans.
Other South Africa media also capitalized on the Mnangagwa Mortuary Story. Zimbabwe is busy building mortuaries as they prepare for Corona Virus.
Mnangagwa’s reaction
President Mnangagwa said: My Govt empathises with all the affected people around the globe….Pandemics of this kind have a scientific explanation and like any other natural phenomena cannot be blamed on anyone. We send our condolences and solidarity to all who are suffering…”