Zimbabwe’s VP submits Mugabe’s ‘correct speech’

As way of quickly rectifying the gaffe of Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has submitted a speech to parliament that the president was supposed to give on Tuesday.

President Robert Mugabe accidentally read a state-of-the-nation address he had already delivered on August 25.

The error has been blamed on a mix-up in the president’s secretarial office.

It took Mr Mnangagwa two hours to table the correct version of the speech because of heated questions and demands from opposition MPs for an apology.

Wednesday’s extraordinary session of parliament was called so that Mr Mugabe’s speech could be officially tabled.

Read also: Aging President Mugabe reads wrong speech

The state-run Herald newspaper had printed the speech in full.

The incident has prompted questions from members of the opposition over whether the 91-year-old president remains fit to lead the country.

The state broadcaster had cancelled its live feed of the opening of parliament on Tuesday fearing further disruptions

However MDC spokesman Obert Gutu later told Reuters it was “a historic blunder”, adding: “Anyone who is still of a sound mind would have quickly picked it up that the speech was the wrong one.”

Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, is Africa’s oldest leader.

Credit: BBC

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