By Idah Mhetu

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri Thursday chose to ignore a public outcry sparked by two incidents in which the top politicians were viewed as violating the spirit of the current coronavirus fight.

Mnangagwa on Wednesday addressed thousands of Zanu PF supporters at a Nyanga rally, less than 24 hours after announcing a ban on all forms of public gatherings in attempts to contain the possible outbreak and spread of the world pandemic.

Last week, Muchinguri torched a storm through embarrassing comments the coronavirus outbreak that has devastated China – its epicentre – before spreading to Europe and killing thousands, was a God-sent curse against countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

But at a brief State House ceremony to unveil government’s Coronavirus Preparedness Response Plan, the two government officials lost an opportunity to comment, or apologise if need be, for their misdemeanours.

The two went about their business of the day in front of journalists without making any reference to the causes of the public outcry.

On Wednesday, MDC chief whip Prosper Mutseyami quizzed the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda on why the President was violating his own ban on gatherings.

Mudenda defended the President saying the rally had been planned long before the ban.

Muchinguri-Kashiri, on her part, also did not comment about what MDC leader Nelson Chamisa later described as a “moment of madness”.

She was giving a vote of thanks after the meeting.