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Zapu director of communications Patrick Ndlovu and
secretary-general Strike Mkandla yesterday said many of the dignitaries were
yet to confirm their attendance.
Ndlovu told Southern Eye that some organisations in
southern Africa that worked with Dabengwa had confirmed their attendance.
“We have some organisations that have confirmed that they
are coming, especially those that worked with the late president Dabengwa. The
African National Congress of South Africa, Umkhonto weSizwe (ANC’s liberation
military wing) and the South African Communist Party by Wednesday had confirmed
with us that they were coming,” Ndlovu said.
“We still expect more to confirm, especially those that
worked with him at that time.”
Ndlovu said preparations for the memorial are at an
advanced stage.
“We are also finalising the list of speakers together with
the government. The government is providing logistical arrangements in terms of
transport and infrastructure. But in terms of programme, it’s in the hands of
the party (Zapu) in liaison with the family,” Ndlovu said.
“We still request that other parties that will attend
should respect and honour our wish that only Zapu regalia is allowed.”
Mkandla said many dignitaries, “some from South Africa,
Botswana and all over Africa,” have expressed interest in attending Dabengwa’s
memorial and burial.
Reports say a number of sitting Presidents and former
Presidents in Africa and beyond would be trooping to Bulawayo on Friday to
attend the memorial of the late Zipra intelligence supremo.
These include former South Africa President Jacob Zuma, who
worked with Dabengwa during the apartheid era in the neighbouring country and
the Zimbabwe liberation war and former Botswana President Ian Khama.
Ndlovu said Dabengwa’s body would tonight lie in state at
his Bulawayo home before being airlifted tomorrow morning to Ntabazinduna for
burial. Newsday
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