Patience Rashai

The Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi, has come out guns blazing at Ex-US diplomats and State Department officials who are reported to have penned a letter to Harvard Global Health Catalyst urging it to rescind the Honorary Ambassadorship to First Lady, Auxilia Mnangwagwa.

Vanguard Africa founding Director, Jeffery Smith, is the brains behind the move. They are alleging cases of abductions of opposition activists in the country.

The letter is directed to Dr Wilfred Ngwa, the director of Harvard Global Health Catalyst and Harvard University President, Lawrence Bacow.

In a hard hitting statement Cde Mutodi said, the letter was littered with emotions of hate, malice and racial undertones.

“Our response to the letter by Ex-US Diplomats Charles Ray, Christopher Dell, Bruce Wharton and others is that, we believe their letter to Harvard is full of hate, malice, jealousy and a racist-induced disbelief that a black woman can be honoured by such a high-ranking university.

“The First Lady is our torch bearer for social change and is working to improve healthcare among poor women in Zimbabwe. While we note the former ambassador’s concerns with regards to the alleged human rights abuses, that have turned out to be in fact stage managed by western sponsored activists bend on tarnishing the Government’s image,” said a highly charged Cde Mutodi.

University of Harvard said it was honouring the First Lady for her philanthropic work and championing the fight against cancer.

Cde Mutodi gave out that the First Lady’s commitment towards increased cancer awareness was unquestionable.

She has also been instrumental in the scraping of maternity fees a move that has brought smiles on many Zimbabwean women.

Only last year the First Lady was a recipient of the Matter Humanitarian Award, by the United States-based Matter Group. The award is given to a person who exemplifies leadership in serving humanity and an inspiration to others.