Ashamed deputy minister spruces up neglected mother’s house for funeral

VILLAGERS in Mt Selinda have condemned Chipinge East legislator, Win Mlambo (Zanu PF), after he allegedly hurriedly painted his neglected late mother’s derelict house ahead of her funeral.

Mlambo is also Information Technology and Courier Services deputy minister.

According to locals at Dimire Village, Mlambo dispatched graders from the State-owned Zinara to the homestead to clear roads leading to his rural home.

He also reportedly borrowed paint from a nearby primary school to improve the appearance of the homestead for visiting mourners. The legislator’s mother, Ambuya Chitengwa, died in Harare last Thursday. The deputy minister resides in plush suburb of Mandara, Harare.

Villagers who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com said Mlambo had completely neglected his mother and forsaken his roots yet he grew up in the area.

“Friends and relatives let’s not turn our backs on where we come from, we are busy cleaning up Win Mlambo’s homestead so that mourners who come will see a different picture),” said one villager.

“From the time his mother passed on Mlambo phoned and said go and borrow paint from Dimire Primary School and paint all the houses and even Zinara graders are now here clearing the road.”

Some claimed the deputy minister did not help his late mother who lived a pauper’s life.

Many said that they only agreed to help spruce up the homestead after Mlambo’s request because they had lived well with his late mother.

But some were signing a different tune, saying the tragedy was a blessing in disguise for the local community.

They said the death of the MP’s mother had forced him to finally do something for a community he is supposed to represent in Parliament.

“The death of Ambuya Mlambo brought development to Mt Selinda, the road now looks as if it has been tarred.”

Efforts to get comment from Mlambo were fruitless as his mobile was continuously on voice mail.

Meanwhile, Pishai  Muchauraya of the opposition Renewal for Democracts of Zimbabwe wondered whether the deputy minister had paid Zinara for use of its equipment.

“Somewhere in Chipinge at the home of a Zanu PF deputy minister, a Zinara grader and council employees doing some work ahead of a funeral for the lawmaker’s family member,” Muchaurayi noted on Facebook.

“The home has been abandoned for some time. It is not clear whether the deputy minister has paid for the services of the grader and council workers or is the usual story.” Newsday