Settlement Chikwinya, MDC member and Mbizo MP queried the involvement of the first lady in government business. Chikwinya noted that Mrs. Mnangagwa had no government position hence the need to stay out of government business.
Chikwinya asked Moyo to:
..explain what role individuals who are outside government structures have in the operations of NatPharm, seeing that recently we saw the first lady directing operations at NatPharm to the extent that she called the minister to State House on a Sunday together with his board to direct them to explain why there were shortages of drugs.
Minister of Health, Dr. Obadiah Moyo defended her saying that she was the ministry’s ambassador. Moyo said:
The first lady’s work is philanthropic work… She has done a tremendous amount of work for the country without any doubt. She has managed to acquire on behalf of the ministry, on behalf of all of us, she has acquired equipment that we could never have been able to acquire.
He said that the ministry urges the first lady to continue doing her work of bridging the gap for the country. Moyo said her efforts must be applauded particularly when foreign currency to import some essentials such as hospital equipment is scarce.
The first lady recently organised a meeting between the president and doctors. During the meeting, the president promised that the government would address their grievances.
Auxillia’s critiques have likened her character to that of the former first lady, Grace Mugabe who could charge people at rallies and they would meet their fate.
More: The Zimbabwe Mail