Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa created loud whispers Saturday when he bunked the burial of the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Engineer Simon Musanhu, who died on Thursday.
While a sombre atmosphere engulfed the cemetery as government officials, as relatives and friends converged to pay their last respects to Musanhu, Mr Mnangagwa was conspicuous by his absence.
The development has added wings to wide reports and rumours that Mr Musanhu was poisoned to death (READ MORE– Minister Killed “Over Mujuru Secret Tapes”) as punishment for his alleged role in the so called Mujuru plot in which he was named in a secret tapes investigation that fingered him at the helm of efforts to as claimed by the state, topple Robert Mugabe and replace him with Joicce Mujuru.
When contacted, Mnangagwa’s office defended him saying he had already been to the funeral two days before.
“Yes he didn’t to the burial but remember he is a busy man and had already gone to the funeral at the family house “kundobata maoko” did you not notice?,” his secretary told this reporter.
Musanhu who passed away in Harare in Greystone Park was buried at Glen Forest Cemetery and was treated as a cast-away due to his alleged role in the Mujuru secret tape saga.
Meanwhile Zanu PF National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, who is also the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, who worked with Engineer Musanhu, described him as a loyal servant of the people.
He was the Zanu PF National Assembly member for Hwedza North.
Relatives of the late Deputy Minister said the void left will be difficult to fill.