Chinamasa Throws Rutendo Under the Bus

Chinamasa Throws Rutendo Under the Bus

Zanu-PF Treasurer Patrick Chinamasa has thrown Rutendo Matinyarare under the bus.

The former Attorney General and Finance Minister has released a statement in which he distances himself from claims surrounding the death of late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa.

Zambia-Zimbabwe Diplomatic Row Deepens

In his post, Chinamasa says he has never met Rutendo Matinyarare whose gender he seems not to know.

As a matter of fact, I don't know Rutendo Matinyarare and I have never met him/her in my life.

Chinamasa who is unsurprisingly courteous and conciliatory towards the Zambian authorities goes on to acknowledge the role played by Zambia in the Liberation of Zimbabwe.

The statement by Chinamasa is a direct response to a protest that happened in Zambia in which UNDP members submitted petitioned their Copperbelt provincial minister Elisha Matamba to take the matter of Chinamasa and Rutendo seriously.

Minister Matamba vowed to take the issue up with SADC, AU and ultimately the UN.

Read Chinamasa's apologetic statement:

The recent statement by Zambian Provincial Minister for Copperbelt, Honourable Elisha Matamba, has been brought to my attention. 

There is no truth whatsoever in the allegations by Honourable Matamba: 

a) that I killed the Late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa; 

b) that I “admitted to having a hand in the death of former Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa”; 

c) that “Chinamasa and Rutendo have agreed that they participated in killing Mwanawasa” (As a matter of fact, I don't know Rutendo Matinyarare and I have never met him/her in my life); 

d) that I have intent to kill Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

Chinamasa Throws Rutendo Under the Bus

The above allegations by Honourable Matamba are false, malicious, and highly defamatory. I, however, agree with Honourable Matamba when he says that “Zimbabwe and Zambia are like twins, sisters.” In fact, the two countries are more than twins/sisters. 

Zimbabweans will never forget that Zambia, along with Tanzania, Mozambique, and other Frontline States, acted as midwives to our freedom, independence, and sovereignty that we fervently cherish and defend. The sacrifices made by Zambians for our freedom and independence are part of the liberation history that is taught at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology. Zimbabweans harbor no ill intent against Zambia or Zambians. As neighbors, we should not allow agents provocateurs to damage the good relationship that exists between our two countries and peoples.