Chimanimani East MP, Joshua Sacco, has blamed social media and some people in Chimanimani for lying to him that the students at St Charles Lwanga had been rescued by the army after Cyclone Idai had hit the area.
Sacco was jeered by crowds at Skyline on Wednesday when President Emmerson Mnangagwa hailed him for his efforts in raising the alarm about the destruction caused by Idai.
In an interview with Newsday, Sacco denied that he had run away, abandoning his people. He said:
On the issue of St Charles Lwanga, I was advised that the army had rescued the children. I even got images through social media images, but a few minutes later, I was told that children had returned back to school because of bad weather.
I did interviews with journalists and a few minutes later, I was corrected with the new position. There was no malice to lie to the nation. I asked the ZBC reporter to retract but failed to do so.
I did not run away, but I was in a position of danger and actually knew that I was the one with information and I had to drive to Mutare and alert the Department of Civil Protection.
I was the first person who alerted President Emmerson Mnangagwa through the Office of the Vice-President. By the time, the President was already on his way out of the country.
Mnangagwa came to Sacco’s rescue when it became clear that the crowds were incensed. Mnangagwa said then:
For us to have information of the area, it’s because of your MP, the one you are saying you don’t want, but I like him. That’s your own problem (if you don’t like him). Me as the President of this country and your ruler, I want him. He helped with geographic mapping and giving us information. We thank him for that.
Related:
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St Lwanga Students ‘Forced’ Soldiers To Ferry Them From Skyline To Chipinge
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PICTURES: Burial Of Munashe Jena (13) Killed By Cyclone At St Charles Luwanga
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St Charles Lwanga Students Finally Get Help
More: Newsday