Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko visited Bulawayo at the weekend where he assured residents that government is taking all the necessary measures to ensure that city dwellers have adequate water.
According to state media reports, Mphoko also took advantage of his visit to dismiss reports that he was once in the country’s feared spy network, the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).
The vice president has been linked to the CIO, which is accused of being part of state security agents and forces that killed thousands of people in the Midlands and Matabeleland regions by the North Korean-trained Five Brigade in the 1980s.
Some residents reportedly noted that Mphoko appears to be a person who is able to address their needs.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association says most of its members did not attend vice-president’s Mphoko’s meetings over the weekend because they believed he was meeting Zanu PF members and not the general public.
However, Ambrose Sibindi, the association’s organizing secretary, and western region vice chairman of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions tells V-O-A reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that residents will engage the vice-president on issues affecting the city; which include water problems and revival of industries, adding Mphoko is more approachable than his predecessors.
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Interview with Ambrose Sibindi