News / Local
Tsvangirai visits Bulawayo today to console Mahlangu's relatives
23 Oct 2015 at 07:02hrs | Views
Tsvangirai visits Bulawayo today to console the late Nkulumane legislator Thamsanqa Mahlangu's relatives after coming under fire for snubbing the MP's burial two weeks ago.
Tsvangirai who had travelled to the city for the funeral failed to turn up at die burial after, according to insiders, he was caught up in the party's factional fights.
The MDC-T leader instead, sources revealed, spent the day holed up at a house belonging to a member of deputy president Thokozani Khupe's faction that is pitted against the one linked to former organising secretary Nelson Chamisa.
This was after youths belonging to the two factions openly clashed in front of mourners as the party was spilt along the feuding legislator's relatives tussling over the control of burial proceedings.
On one end was Mahlangu's paternal family the Sangos and that of his stepfather the Mugovas on the other.
The Khupe faction reportedly camped at the Sangos in Luveve suburb while the Chamisa grouping was at Nkulumane.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday confirmed Tsvangirai's visit.
Chamisa on the day of the burial outfoxed his leader as he emerged from the Roman Catholic Church in Nkulumane leading pall bearers carrying Mahlangu's casket, with Tsvangirai nowhere to be seen.
The factionalism is expected to play out again today as Tsvangirai visits the two families.
Tsvangirai who had travelled to the city for the funeral failed to turn up at die burial after, according to insiders, he was caught up in the party's factional fights.
The MDC-T leader instead, sources revealed, spent the day holed up at a house belonging to a member of deputy president Thokozani Khupe's faction that is pitted against the one linked to former organising secretary Nelson Chamisa.
This was after youths belonging to the two factions openly clashed in front of mourners as the party was spilt along the feuding legislator's relatives tussling over the control of burial proceedings.
The Khupe faction reportedly camped at the Sangos in Luveve suburb while the Chamisa grouping was at Nkulumane.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday confirmed Tsvangirai's visit.
Chamisa on the day of the burial outfoxed his leader as he emerged from the Roman Catholic Church in Nkulumane leading pall bearers carrying Mahlangu's casket, with Tsvangirai nowhere to be seen.
The factionalism is expected to play out again today as Tsvangirai visits the two families.
Source - chronicle
