IT is 5am, the grass is covered in morning dew and cool
temperatures are biting, but to multitudes of MDC supporters it is just another
time to celebrate their late leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
For some, it is time to cash in on party regalia and
various merchandise with Tsvangirai’s face as preparations for the memorial service
for the late opposition leader got underway.
The road leading to Humanikwa village, Buhera, was littered
with cars ferrying MDC supporters and his homestead was already packed with his
followers who had spent the night singing and dancing while waiting for the
break of dawn to start the memorial.
At a school ground adjacent to the Tsvangirai homestead,
hordes of police officers assigned to provide security were also checking in
and some could be seen sharing smiles and humming to MDC songs, praising the
late opposition leader.
Whenever the name of the new MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was
mentioned in some party songs, some police officers looked aside and seemed
bored.
They were probably avoiding getting into trouble with their
superiors, some of whom were watching from a distance.
At sunrise, more and more supporters arrived with some of
them looking intoxicated and others had the audacity to utter demeaning words
against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom they accused of ineptitude shown by
the economic crisis facing by the country.
One old but visibly drunk MDC supporter had the guts to
shout “Mnangagwa is evil,” in front of a police officer, who could not help but
just smile at the man.
At the memorial procession that was held at Makanda Primary
School, speakers took turns to eulogise their hero.
Tsvangirai’s family had advised against people coming in
party regalia, but the school grounds were a sea of red and MDC regalia was on
sale.
From the scarf carrying Tsvangirai’s face to some with
Chamisa’s face, berets and T-shirts, the dealers were aiming to cash in.
However, the journey leading to Humanikwa was not for the
faint-hearted. The tarred road to the vilagr was not a joy ride.
It is a neglected road that branches off from the
precarious Masvingo Beitbridge highway, which has claimed many lives.
It has potholes that have become a part of the driving
experience and it had its fair share of motorists that slept in their cars after
hitting one too many potholes.
By 10:49am, the ground was electric with red painting
Makanda Primary School grounds and MDC slogans being the language.
To allow the church to lead the memorial service, MDC
organising secretary Amos Chibaya announced that former Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions secretary-general Wellington Chibebe would lead the session. All
this happened in the absence of Chamisa, who was yet to arrive.
By 11am, Chamisa’s convoy made its way to the ground,
interrupting the entire programme as the director of ceremonies could not
contain the ecstasy that had engulfed the area.
Chamisa embraced those at the top table, some with hugs,
but for others like one of his deputies, Elias Mudzuri, he gave a handshake.
For the first five minutes, the two did not share a word
although they sat next to each other.
Tsvangirai’s son Edwin had a torrid time thanking Mnangagwa
for helping the family with finances for the memorial.
The crowd jeered him through out until Chibaya had to
intervene. “Hey, people, you ate here, let us learn to thank the
government,” said Edwin.
The crowd did not take his statement lightly and shouted:
“It is our money!” Standard
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