Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri sent tounges wagging following her remarks that the coronavirus outbreak, which has mostly affected countries in the Northern Hemisphere including the United States, was a form of punishment from God.
Muchinguri-Kashiri made the remarks while speaking at a Zanu-PF meeting in Mashonaland recently.
She added that COVID-19 was unleashed by God to punish US President Donald Trump and other Western countries for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Zimbabweans have expressed mixed feelings over Muchinguri-Kashiri’s remarks. Here are some of the views expressed on Twitter:
Alex T Magaisa: I have listened to Oppah Muchinguri’s views on the coronavirus pandemic & to say I’m gobsmacked is an understatement. I wonder how the team of wannabe spin-doctors running the ZANU PF propaganda machine will spin this one. How does a senior minister utter such rubbish?
Sophie Mokoena: I am waiting for President @edmnangagwa to correct this mess. The problem of the coronavirus is a reality. We don’t deserve this kind of leadership in Africa. Alex Magaisa responds – The Defence Minister embarrassed us a lot. But they are not the type to make corrections, let alone apologise. They have never taken responsibility and they won’t start now. Regrettably, they have a bunch of enablers that see nothing wrong at all in this.
Mmatigari: Why should the President “correct” someone’s opinion. It’s her view. Why are you people so intolerant? Oppah must think what you want her to think?
Alexander Rusero: Spiritually it may be proven true, even by making Biblical reference. We are majoring on the minor here!
Ranga Mataire: She was speaking to a specific political constituency and its clear banter. Nothing to write home about.
Hopewell Chin’ono: Zimbabwe’s Defense Minister, Oppah Muchinguri, said that America must suffer through the Coronavirus whilst addressing a rally in Chinhoyi, west of Zimbabwe on Saturday. Mnangagwa’s spokesman Charamba added that he agreed with Muchinguri’s point that America must suffer.
Fadzayi Mahere: Somebody high up in Govt needs to take charge of the Oppah Muchinguri disaster. Her remarks have gone viral & are being recorded as the official Zimbabwe Govt position on #CoronaVirus in many international news outlets – including Germany, the UK, SA & Kuwait. Is this desirable?
Pedzisai Ruhanya: Some people in the Zimbabwe gov such as Oppah Muchiguri, Mutsvangwa, Matemadanda and Mthuli should not be allowed anywhere near public service. They are toxic and poisonous to the national interest.
… Doing wrong things is not a problem in ZANU PF that’s why the leadership of that party is silent on Oppah Muchinguri’s offensive and racist attacks against coronavirus victims.
… South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa declares coronavirus a national disaster while in Zimbabwe Defence Minister and ZANU PF chair Oppah Muchinguri says the pandemic is a punishment against Westerners over sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe although the virus originated from China.
Chipo Dendere: Just to be clear this is a ZANU PF problem. Don’t try and include us in this mess. ZANU PF officials are callous – the world gets to see what we deal with every day.
Godfrey Gandawa: On behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, I would like to apologise to those countries that have been affected by the coronavirus; the provocative and ignorant comments by the Defence Minister do not reflect the thinking of the generality of Zimbabweans who wish you a speedy recovery.
God is love, all people are created in God’s image. Learn not to hate but to love all and wish all the best ever that Our Almighty Lord the Of Abraham has granted us to receive on this wonderful and supposed peaceful planet.
Quite an unfortunate statement for what it is but even very diplomatically wayward, detestable and explosive. Can have consequences and costs never imagined at any time in the short, medium and long term . To be accurate this does not constitute a national position but a personal position of the one who pronounced and few who fascinate in such divisive diplomatic statements.
The level of THIS WOMANS brain connections must be the smallest in the wo;le of mankind, defense minister what a joke.
Racist junta sympathiser more likely
fool
What a repugnant, juvenile and stupid statement from a woman who is clearly devoid of logical thought, intellect and compassion. Her statement is another example of how the Zanu PF leadership has led Zimbabwe into the political and economic failure that it is today.
I find it very strange that all those criticising Oppah Muchinguri are doing so for all the wrong reasons! Oppah Muchinguri’s remarks have nothing to do with the West, as reality tells us that Zimbabwe’s closet friend, China, has suffered most from the corona virus! Muchinguri should have been very drunk or doesnt know anything about the origins of the virus. Some people just rush to protect the West for no apparent reason!
Anyone in support of this assertion is darn stupid !!! First of all America is not the worst affected, neither did it originate there. Secondly, this is serious, people are dying and a person can’t say something like that-simple!
No apparent reason ? how about the growing increase unaccountable communist dictatorships.
If she is defence minister she must have played a part in the recent junta killings in the capital ,making moral statements from god won’t help
China it filthy eating habits and pangolins given by Mugabe are the real reason for this pandemic
Pangolins dear