THE family of the late MDC founding leader Morgan
Tsvangirai yesterday said they will not allow wearing of party regalia at the
memorial service for the former Prime Minister in Buhera at the weekend.
Although this will likely set the family and party on a
collision course, Tsvangirai’s younger brother Manase said they expect their
decisions to be respected.
Tsvangirai died last year following a battle with cancer of
the colon and was buried in his rural home in Humanikwa, Buhera, where the
memorial will be held this Saturday.
“The emphasis is that we have invited everyone; this is not
a partisan thing and on top of that we expect people to come putting what
reminds us of Morgan Tsvangirai,” Manase said while addressing journalists at
Tsvangirai’s Strathaven house in Harare.
“There is no any other regalia that should be put on except
that of Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. This is a memorial (and) we expect the
event to be peaceful in Buhera.
“We are expecting different people from the State
departments, different political parties and different people from other
institutions,” he said.
The family said they expect the event to be peaceful and
open to everyone because Tsvangirai worked with almost everyone, including
former President Robert Mugabe, who was his main rival during his long
political career.
Manase said the family will be leading the proceedings,
hence their wishes, especially on regalia, must be respected.
“I think people should actually respect the Tsvangirai
family and we are saying it’s better you put Morgan Tsvangirai regalia because
we are remembering him as a person who has gone before us.
“To the family, I think it will be like an insult to try
and put on something that doesn’t resemble him. We will encourage people to put
on something about Morgan Tsvangirai for those few hours,” he said.
Manase said Elizabeth, Tsvangirai’s widow and the in-laws
from the Mhundwa and Macheka families had been informed about the event.
He also said there was no bad blood between the family and
the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC leadership.
Manase, who was flanked by Ian Makone, the late
Tsvangirai’s aide, said they have also put mechanisms to ensure that violence
will not break out like what happened at the ex-Premier’s burial.
“This is not a party function and it is led by the family.
There is security for everyone. We are not going to see a repetition of what
happened (at his burial),” he said. Manase also called for discipline among
those who will be attending by not trespassing into villagers’ fields, saying
the local traditional leadership made a passionate plea on the matter. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment