MDC MP Settlement Chikwinya denied accusations that he said Vice President Constantino Chiwenga brought the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) from China.
Speaking during a question and answer session this week in Parliament, which was attended by Chiwenga, Chikwinya denied ever denigrating the VP as was alleged by Norton MP Temba Mliswa. Said Chikwinya:
The Vice President went through his difficult times which you (Speaker) announced at the beginning of this session.
To insinuate that a matter regarding the Coronavirus which emanates from China is being discussed in Parliament and therefore since he was treated in China, therefore he brought that disease is an indictment and a show of disrespect by Honourable Mliswa to Honourable Chiwenga.
I challenge the Clerk to refer to the Hansard. If there was any time that I raised the name of Honourable Vice President Chiwenga in relation to the Coronavirus, I am prepared to face any consequences.
Chiwenga spent four months at a Chinese hospital last year where he underwent a surgical procedure. He returned to Zimbabwe in November, a few weeks before COVID-19 was detected in China’s Wuhan city.