Masawi burial boycotted by MDC formations

The late ZANU PF politburo member died in Harare last weekend. Soon after it was announced he had been declared a national hero the MDC-T said they said they would boycott the burial, although they sympathized with the Masawi family.

True to their word no one from the MDC formations, including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara, attended the burial ceremony.

There is currently a raging debate in the country on the granting of hero or heroine status to Zimbabweans. The ZANU PF politburo currently has the sole responsibility of deciding who should be buried at the National Heroes Acre.

With the creation of the inclusive government last year, expectations have been that the awarding of such a status in the current political dispensation would reflect the letter and spirit of inclusivity.

But the death last month of the MDC-M vice-president, Gibson Sibanda, sparked a heated debate after the ZANU PF politburo refused to grant him national hero status, providing him with just a state-assisted funeral. The former trade unionist served as secretary for ZAPU during the liberation struggle.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said this week the declaration of Masawi as a national hero was testimony that ZANU PF wanted to be exclusive despite being part of the inclusive government

Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa told us that the ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe took a swipe at both the MDC formations for boycotting the burial. Mugabe described the national shrine as a place to lay heroes and not just people perceived to be good or holy.

This place is not meant for those perceived to be good or holy but heroes of the liberation struggle. If we had intended to bury good people at Heroes Acre then we will have to prepare another hill elsewhere, but heroes lying here are heroes of the liberation struggle, Mugabe said.

Nyerenyere says the MDC is in the inclusive government only on paper but in reality the party is powerless and is used by ZPF to maintain its illegal rule. He believes remaining in the GNU is compromising the democratic change Zimbabwe needs; and Prize says if its true there is a unity government, then the MDC is as guilty as ZPF, as there are continuous human rights violations in the country. He believes the MDC should stop legitimising the illegal rule of ZPF and pull out of the GNU immediately.