President Mnangagwa says he spends Christmas Day reflecting on weaknesses and strengths and how to improve Government programmes and policies given that there will be fewer engagements and phone calls on the day.
The Head of State and Government said a day like Christmas was also an opportunity to review the efficacy of his Cabinet team with a view to establishing if every team member was pulling or needed replacement.
He said this in an interview with a ZBC news crew which visited the First Family at its official residence in Harare to establish how they spend their Christmas day.
When the ZBC news team arrived, the President was busy with official duties in his office at the residence while the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, was doing her household chores, preparing food in anticipation of a visit from their grandchildren.
In an interview held under a relaxed environment as they strolled around the residence’s garden and yard, President Mnangagwa said on Christmas Day, he interacts with his grandchildren for some time before leaving them with their grandmother and then retreats to his home office to brainstorm on the year’s Government performance.
“Christmas is a day to rest. I was at my office at my official residence, reflecting on who will remain, who will go, who is working hard, and what new things I can initiate. So Christmas Day is a day to brainstorm, plan, it is the day for that because all other people will be busy at their homes, there will be less disturbances, there will be fewer phone calls,” said President Mnangagwa as he strolled around the driveway of his yard.
Asked if he rests during the Christmas period, he said: “Yes, at home I play with grandchildren. They came last night, and they will come again later in the afternoon, I play and interact with them briefly and I revert to my work in my office which is here. I have a lot of work to do. Today there are fewer phone calls.”
He said he could not switch off his mobile phone to concentrate on his work because he had to run a country through teamwork.
“The country does not stop working, it (Christmas Day) is the time to reflect without disturbances, we are headed for New Year. We must introduce new programmes, new policies. We must introspect about the past, our weaknesses, our strengths . . . to say this was my team, is it the team that has delivered our vision or does it require interrogation?” he said.
Asked if he would continue with his team going into the new year, the President said he would make a statement to the nation about his vision and programmes at the commencement of the New Year.
“I cannot release it now. I will make my statement after the 1st of January, because just now, everyone is happy, they are celebrating Christmas day and for you to call to tell them that you are no longer part of my team, it would not augur well, but that is the time I reflect how we have worked as a team, what weaknesses have I identified, what is necessary to execute Government programmes,” he said.
Recounting how Christmas was celebrated during his boyhood days, President Mnangagwa said it was a joyous event as they would collectively eat food prepared by his mother.
“In the 1940s and 50s at Christmas, our mothers would cook food in huge pots, prepare bread delivered to us in winnowing baskets, for you (present generation) these things are now just normal,” he said.
He said when he rests, mostly on Sundays, he goes to his farm in Kwekwe to assess the crops and livestock, among other tasks.
First Lady, Dr Mnangagwa said on Christmas day she takes it upon herself to prepare food for her grandchildren.
“I had a message sent to me by my grandchildren, saying they are coming today and they want me to cook for them. They said they wanted some chips. I have prepared cabbages, butternut and so forth, I have prepared food which I want them to eat. I feel very happy because it is not often that we see them because of our busy schedule,” she said.
She said her upbringing is what makes her work hard despite her status as the Mother of the Nation.
Asked what Cde Mnangagwa’s favourite food is, the First Lady said the President, while she likes meat, preferred kapenta and milk.
“From the time I knew him, yes inasmuch as he wants to see meat in the relish, but what he likes most is kapenta and milk. I actually have them now. Even if we visit, we have no problems about what he eats, it’s kapenta and milk,” she said.
On Wednesday, Zimbabwe joined the Christian world to celebrate Christmas Day meant to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
Some went to the rural areas, others went to holiday resorts while others were at home with their families to celebrate the day.
