The late MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s mother caused
a scene at Freedom Square Square in Harare yesterday when she refused to
disembark from the hearse carrying the body of her son at a send-off ceremony
for party supporters.
Efforts to make her disembark from the vehicle and join
other family members and party officials at the high table were fruitless. This
came as Mr Tsvangirai’s son, Edwin, in his speech at the venue told MDC-T
officials and supporters to respect the family.
Gogo Tsvangirai seemed to stick to her words when she
declared at the weekend that she did not want her daughter-in-law Ms Elizabeth
Macheka and controversially appointed acting party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa at
the funeral. She even said she did not
want to hear Mr Chamisa speak.
When the hearse carrying Mr Tsvangirai’s remains arrived at
the venue, people were expecting to see Gogo Tsvangirai joining the high-table
reserved for family members, party leadership and dignitaries. But this was not
to be, as she did not disembark from the vehicle.
This sent conflicting signals in the gathering, with some
suggesting that she snubbed the occasion, while others claimed it was for
security reasons.
Gogo Tsvangirai could be seen eating bananas in the
vehicle, as the casket bearing the body of Mr Tsvangirai remained in the
vehicle throughout the proceedings.
Edwin described his father as a man imbued with great
humility and unifier, who struggled for democracy.
He urged the MDC-T members to protect his father’s legacy
by ensuring a non-violent election this year. “My father was a very powerful
man, who fought for democracy,” he said. “MDC, respect us as a family. Desist
from violence. My father advocated for unity, let us stop fighting.”
Master of ceremony Mr Abednego Bhebhe seemed to have
forgotten to recognise the presence of MDC-T co-vice presidents Engineer Elias
Mudzuri and Dr Thokozani Khupe.
He only did so after a reminder. Eng Mudzuri and Dr Khupe
are fighting for the control of the party with Mr Chamisa in the wake of the
demise of Mr Tsvangirai.
Each of the three claims to be the interim leader of the
opposition party. Former Zambian Labour Minister Fackson Shamande, a close
friend of Mr Tsvangirai, described him as a courageous man who was committed to
democracy.
He said he advised Mr Tsvangirai against joining the
inclusive Government in 2008. “He said to me the best way to heal our wounds is
to put our differences aside,” said Mr Shamande.
“I told him not to join the unity government. I said to him
you will be dribbled. They are going to use you as a shield and come next
elections you will not stand a chance.”
When Mr Chamisa took to the podium, he dwelt on the
envisaged split of the party.
“We hear some people saying the party will split,” he said.
“This old man (Tsvangirai) was a unifier. This party is not for Chamisa, it is
not for Khupe, Mudzuri, Moyo, Mwonzora, Komichi or anyone in the leadership. It
is the people’s party.”
“Yes there can be fighting among the top leadership but
that does not mean that the party is collapsing.”
After the speech most people, including Eng Mudzuri jostled
to shake hands with Mr Chamisa.
Dr Khupe remained glued to her seat. When the proceedings
ended, Dr Khupe was the first to leave the podium.
Former deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara,
Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Dr Munyaradzi Gwisai, former Masvingo Provincial
Affairs Minister Paul Chimedza, MDC Alliance leaders and civic organisations
groups attended the ceremony. Herald
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