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THE reburial of 82 fallen heroes whose remains lie in state in a makeshift mortuary at Matumba Six or Herbert Mine near Old Mutare Mission should not be politicised for political gains, says the Zanu-PF Manicaland leadership.
The reburial of the fallen heroes who were retrieved from a mineshaft at the site was scheduled for last Monday, but was postponed on the 11th hour, a decision which has not gone down well with some provincial leadership.
It has now been agreed that the process should be speeded up to have the fallen cadres made to rest in eternal peace.
Last week, Minister of Home Affairs, Cde Kembo Mohadi, announced that the reburial had been postponed to a date to be announced, but the provincial leadership said Chief Mutasa was seeing red over the.
Reports from Matumba Six indicate that strange things were happening as the fallen heroes were demanding their reburial by marching and singing revolutionary songs at night.
Some of them were reported to have manifested themselves through Chief Mutasa’s son last Thursday demanding their reburial.
Speaking at the Zanu-PF provincial co-ordination committee meeting held at Marymount Teachers’ College on Sunday, Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial chairman Ambassador Dr John Shumba Mvundura said it was time for everyone to unite and rebury the fallen heroes.
“Chief Mutasa is a bitter man following the delays in reburying the remains. He cannot conduct some of his annual rituals like the rain-making ceremony (maganzvo) because of this. We want everyone involved in this whole process to play ball and stop political bickering,” said Ambassador Mvundura.
He was supported by outgoing national secretary for women affairs, Cde Oppah Muchinguri, who said she had witnessed the spirits of the fallen cadres manifesting through Chief Mutasa’s son last week.
“We should not politicise this issue. Why do we want to use the dead to gain political mileage?
“I am in agreement with the chairman that the reburial should be speeded up. We want to unite to give our fallen cadres a befitting send-off. As leaders we should lead by example by setting aside our political differences and unite for a common cause.
“We cannot continue to burden Chief Mutasa through our political differences and shenanigans. The reburial should be done as soon as possible,” said Cde Muchinguri.
Central Committee member and the national treasurer for the Fallen Heroes’ Trust of Zimbabwe, Cde Mandi Chimene, said: “We should not forget that we are dealing with spiritual matters.
“We should ensure that our fellow cadres are buried as soon as possible lest they vent their anger on us. We should not throw our weight everywhere because we are doing so at our own peril.
“Are we in a position to stand up against their spirits if they revolt against us? This is food for thought for everyone here present.”
The chairman of the reburial committee and Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Chris Mushohwe, said all the logistics were now in place.
He said they had agreed with Cde Mohadi that the reburial should be conducted on November 14, a date which the meeting said was too far as they fear that the open graves will be filled up in the event that it rains any time soon.
The meeting proposed that Cde Mushohwe should engage Cde Mohadi to come up with an early date, which had not been announced at the time of going to press.
The provincial leadership had proposed today as the most convenient date.
Online Reporter