HARARE – Motormouth deputy information minister Energy Mutodi was publicly rebuked by foreign affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo on Tuesday after mocking Tanzania’s coronavirus response.

Mutodi bizarrely lashed out at information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, her husband Chris Mutsvangwa and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) which first reported that the government was distancing itself from his comments.

The controversial deputy minister’s reaction on Twitter suggested he was initially unaware where the rebuke had come from, believing that it was Mutsvangwa leading the pushback.

Mutodi triggered the latest row when he tweeted on May 4: “His Excellency John Pombe Magafuli’s Tanzania now has 630 Covid-19 cases with prayers but without a lockdown, while His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe only got 31 cases with a lockdown and masks. An insight into how managers can be game changers.”

Moyo took the unusual step of issuing a statement “to make it clear that this statement does not reflect the government’s position nor policy.”

The foreign affairs minister added: “The government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that the President of the United Republic of Tanzania His Excellency John Magufuli adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19 in his country. Taking into account the unique domestic environment and other factors prevailing on the ground, indeed, no two individual countries have the same set of environment and conditions to warrant the adopting of a uniform response to disease outbreaks and other crises.

“Each government is implementing policies that best suit their unique domestic environments in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO)… In this context, there was no basis whatsoever, to compare the policies of the two presidents.”

After the ZBC posted a tweet linking to a story titled, ‘Government distances self from Mutodi Covid-19 statements’, the deputy minister hit back: “This shows gross incompetence at the ZBC and it also goes on to show how Monica and her husband Chris are abusing the state media.”

The ZBC took down the tweet, but later reposted a revised one with the headline, ‘Government distances self from Deputy Minister’s Covid-19 statements.”

A ZBC insider said the tweet was taken down “to correct the headline”.

“One of the online producers denied the deputy minister his title. The headline was corrected and post retweeted,” the official said.

Mutodi typically wears his heart on his sleeve, and has previously been forced to withdraw comments made on Twitter.

In September last year, the 41-year-old former rhumba musician was forced into a climbdown after controversial comments which critics said questioned the nationality of the Ndebele people.

“You will find that here in Zimbabwe, if you didn’t know, just about 1836 we accommodated thousands of South Africans who came into Zimbabwe fleeing from (King) Shaka, and they were being led by Mzilikazi,” Mutodi said in the video, which he later withdrew saying he had been “misunderstood”.

Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu accused Mutodi of stoking tribal hatred.

“That’s a totally unacceptable, misdirected statement which is not from Zanu PF,” Mpofu said at the time.

In the same month, Mutodi sparked outrage after mocking the Midlands State University (MSU) by suggesting it enrols students with low intelligence.

The controversy started after Mutodi tweeted: “After former President Robert Mugabe decided to be buried in a mausoleum, we anticipate the bourgeoisie will soon prefer the same burial as a sign of wealth and class. And the rural folks will call the grave ‘musoromiya’ of course failing in their endeavours to pronounce the term.”

Tazorora Musarurwa, a lawyer, responded to Mutodi saying: “I feel sorry for my friends from the University of Cape Town that are so proud of their alma mater. Was considering applying for a PhD there as well but I am certainly having second thoughts.”

Mutodi, who graduated with a PhD from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2018, replied: “UCT is Africa’s best university. You can apply but you certainly don’t qualify judging by your IQ. Try MSU instead.”