HARARE, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean Vice-President Kembo Mohadi resigned on Monday after local media reported that he had engaged in improper conduct.
Mohadi, along with Constantino Chiwenga, was a
deputy to President Emmerson Mnangagwa since 2018, but without a political
power base, he was not seen as a potential successor to the president.
In a rare move by a public official in
Zimbabwe, Mohadi said he had taken the decision to step down “not as a matter
of cowardice but as a sign of demonstrating great respect to the office of the
president”.
Announcing his resignation in
a four-page statement, the now-former vice president, who assumed the position
following a 2017 coup that ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe, maintained
that he was a victim of a “grand strategy” by his “political foes.”
“My decision to relinquish the vice president
post is also a way of respecting the citizens of this great nation, and my
party comrades, some of whom would have been affected by the falsehoods and
character assassination in the digital ecosystems,” Mohadi said.
“My resignation is also necessitated by my
desire to seek clarity and justice on the matter in which my legal team will
pursue and deconstruct this pseudo-paparazzi and flawed espionage to achieve
cheap political points. I promise to poke holes on this grand strategy from
political foes.”
Local online media service ZimLive calling him ‘Love-rat’
has in the past two weeks carried reports that Mohadi had improper sexual
liaisons with married women, including one of his subordinates.
The main opposition MDC Alliance and several
civic groups, including women’s rights organisations, had demanded Mohadi’s
resignation and an investigation into his conduct.
The Women’s Academy for Leadership and
Political Excellence (WALPE) celebrated Mohadi’s departure but insisted on an
investigation to bring him to account.
“WALPE welcomes the resignation of Mr. Mohadi
as it signifies the need to hold the office of the VP to the highest moral
standards. We call on the government to investigate the cases and bring the
former VP to account for his misdeeds.”
Mohadi denied the accusations last week saying
this was part of a political plot against him. On Monday he continued to deny
the accusations saying he would seek legal recourse. -
Africa
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