Following a NewsDay article published today titled “Cyclone Idai blessing in disguise: ED” there’s been heated discussion on social media platforms on the exact meaning of President Mnangagwa’s words.
Speaking in the Shona vernacular Mnangagwa said what was translated by NewsDay and others to mean the Cyclone was a blessing in disguise. Others disagree, saying that the President’s words are being translated incorrectly as he had merely used an idiom to put across the point that relations with the Americans were mending.
Here’s a video of the speech in question:
Commenting on the translation former minister in Robert Mugabe’s government, Prof Jonathan Moyo said:
The generic translation is: “every downside has an upside”. And the contextual translation is: “this tragedy” (kuipa kwechinwe) “is a blessing in disguise” (kunaka kwechimwe). Neither the generic nor contextual (equivalent) translation apply to a tragedy involving loss of life!
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More: NewsDay