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This is despite the three main political parties to the inclusive Government meeting in Harare on Sunday and agreeing to attend the commemorations. MDC-T spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, yesterday confirmed the three parties had earlier on met and agreed on a programme. Mr Mwonzora said the date and time of the late Mukonoweshuro’s burial was ‘‘a prerogative of the family. ”
He said the MDC-T officials attended Minister Mukonoweshuro’s burial because it was the “most logical thing to do.”
“What has happened is purely coincidence. The time and the date of burial is a family prerogative thing. The family advised us that the burial was at 10.30 am and as a leadership, we saw it fit to attend the burial because it was the most logical thing to do.
“The three parties could have agreed to attend (the commemorations) but they did that without the Mukonoweshuro family. This, however, must never be construed as any form of disrespect to the national day.
“Our belief is that Mukonoweshuro is the latest hero to be buried and we had to attend,” he said.
Mr Mwonzora said the MDC-T leadership hoped to attend the commemorations after the burial, which they never did. Political analysts yesterday blasted MDC-T for snubbing national events.
Dr Ibbo Mandaza said it was clear that the MDC-T was protesting that Mukonoweshuro should have been declared a national hero. He said the clash of events also showed the level of discord in the inclusive Government.
“It simply shows that there was no consensus between the parties. By doing what they did, MDC-T are making a statement, protesting that Mukonoweshuro should have been a national hero.
“They had their own function running concurrently with a national programme but we all have to recognise a national event and he (Mukonoweshuro) should have been buried yesterday or tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said the MDC-T should have found an alternative way of handling the situation considering that Heroes Day is symbolic. He said if the MDC-T leadership had communicated, President Mugabe would have captured it in his address.
“There has been much talk of the MDC-T participation in national events. The Heroes Day being symbolic, should have been attended to or the MDC-T should have send senior members at the national shrine like what Zanu-PF did.
“It simply means there was no communication because the maturity by Zanu-PF should have been emulated by the MDC-T. We understand they were burying a senior member in their party but no one should play politics with national events.” he said.
Zanu-PF was represented by Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Muzembi, Youth Development, Indeginisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Olivia Muchena.
Zanu-PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo, said the two events were important and should have been co-ordinated “tactically.”
“It was possible to accommodate the two events on the same day with the commemorations starting in the morning and the burial in the afternoon. There is no doubt that Professor Muko-noweshuro was a distinguished academic and an inspiration to many of us and ideally both events were important. Heroes Day is also a broader concept where we commemorate those who made us what we are, our heroes,” he said. Zimbabwe has set aside Heroes Day to commemorate the sterling work by several sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives to fight for the liberation of the country in 1980.
Online Reporter