Johannesburg - Social media users were left bewildered after images of the Zimbabwean finance minister officiating at a bin opening ceremony began making the rounds online recently.
Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's Finance and Economic Development Minister, was apparently opening a bin in the village of Rusape at an event that attracted fellow government officials.
African exponent reports that, after the minister opened a multi-sports complex in the eastern Zimbabwe town, he went on to unveil three new bins to assist in improving waste management in the town.
Chinamasa's move, however noble, was not well received online, with users slamming the minister the move as a mere "political stunt" so close to the 2018 elections.
Among those commenting was #ThisFlag pastor Evan Mawarire, who reacted in shock and disbelief to the bin opening ceremony.
See below some reactions to the ceremony:
There is a fundamental problem with a whole Finance Minister officializing opening of bin. You wouldn’t do the same as FD at your company. When your company buys bins do you do ribbon cutting for them and why not. There are thousands of such bins in Zim. Must we do same for all?
— Tafarrell (@tafadzwamarere) June 21, 2018
When Patrick Chinamasa was moved from his Minister of Finance post to Minister of WhatsApp, we thought it would end there. But when a whole military gov't sends a whole Minister of Finance to open a bin, yes a bin, you know there's something terribly wrong with ZanuPF.
— Majaira Jairosi (@MJairosi) June 20, 2018
LET'S VOTE
Harare Mayor Ben Manyenyeni broke the internet when he officially opened an elevator.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa (a qualified lawyer) has opened a dumpster (bin) in Marondera.
Who takes the trophy for stupidity:
RETWEET for Chinamasa
LIKE for Manyenyeni pic.twitter.com/Yu4ugREkS2
— ilizwi263 Bloggers (@ilizwi263) June 19, 2018
#Zim finance minister commissng a bin, reminds an article by @cobbo3 on the love by Africa big men cuttn ribbons for all manner of things!! pic.twitter.com/u5IipaYLcq
— Alex Mwange (@takamakajua) June 20, 2018
Today Zim's finance minister officially opened a big #westillon ha ha ha pic.twitter.com/olrDrMHvyM
— Gray Mthandazo K (@Graynator) June 19, 2018