News / National
Zanu-PF bid to hijack chief's funeral flops
01 Mar 2012 at 12:16hrs | Views
HARARE - The family of the late Chief Makumbe of Buhera yesterday blocked a bid by Zanu-PF officials to turn the funeral of their relative into a political event.
Zanu-PF has in the past been accused of manipulating events such as funerals and weddings to denounce political opponents.
But yesterday turned to be a different day and the party was left with egg on its face after the family struck off Mark Madiro, the Zanu-PF chairman for Manicaland province, from the list of guest speakers.
The family also repeatedly asked for politicians to desist from hijacking the burial.
Born Chakanyuka Hwata, Chief Makumbe died of liver cancer at the age of 92 at the weekend in Harare after ruling for 26 years.
Standing firm to the decision of the family to bar politicisation of the funeral, a family member identified as Mangwiro said the family was not entertaining any political interference in the proceedings.
"Please let us stick to the chief's burial. If you have any burning issues about your political parties, speak after this ceremony. We are here to bury the chief," he said.
Mangwiro said the family would not tolerate attempts to intimidate mourners as the police were on standby to respond to any mishaps.
Those who attended the burial included Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, local government minister Ignatius Chombo, Manicaland governor Chris Mushowe, MP for Buhera West Eric Matinenga and former cabinet minister Kumbirai Kangai.
Speakers at the funeral called for peace, saying the chief was an advocate of tolerance during his lifetime.
Tsvangirai, who spoke as the family's nephew, said other chiefs should emulate the late chief's efforts to bring peace to the community.
"Preaching peace should not be left to politicians only because the person whose property you destroy is one of your own," he said, adding that the major cause of violence was inequitable distribution of wealth.
Tikangodya tese tikaguta hapana bopoto rinouya, (If resources are allocated accordingly, no one will grumble)," he said.
Matinenga, in his testimony on how the chief was a friend and advisor, said the late chief was a peace-loving man.
"In our beer drinking and catching up meetings he would emphasise his worry of violence, pointing out how other communities were losing people and development as a result of violence," Matinenga said.
"We are facing hard times ahead but we should always remember the chief's lessons on peace."
Chombo praised the late chief for promoting developmental issues in his area.
Zanu-PF has in the past been accused of manipulating events such as funerals and weddings to denounce political opponents.
But yesterday turned to be a different day and the party was left with egg on its face after the family struck off Mark Madiro, the Zanu-PF chairman for Manicaland province, from the list of guest speakers.
The family also repeatedly asked for politicians to desist from hijacking the burial.
Born Chakanyuka Hwata, Chief Makumbe died of liver cancer at the age of 92 at the weekend in Harare after ruling for 26 years.
Standing firm to the decision of the family to bar politicisation of the funeral, a family member identified as Mangwiro said the family was not entertaining any political interference in the proceedings.
"Please let us stick to the chief's burial. If you have any burning issues about your political parties, speak after this ceremony. We are here to bury the chief," he said.
Mangwiro said the family would not tolerate attempts to intimidate mourners as the police were on standby to respond to any mishaps.
Those who attended the burial included Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, local government minister Ignatius Chombo, Manicaland governor Chris Mushowe, MP for Buhera West Eric Matinenga and former cabinet minister Kumbirai Kangai.
Speakers at the funeral called for peace, saying the chief was an advocate of tolerance during his lifetime.
Tsvangirai, who spoke as the family's nephew, said other chiefs should emulate the late chief's efforts to bring peace to the community.
"Preaching peace should not be left to politicians only because the person whose property you destroy is one of your own," he said, adding that the major cause of violence was inequitable distribution of wealth.
Tikangodya tese tikaguta hapana bopoto rinouya, (If resources are allocated accordingly, no one will grumble)," he said.
Matinenga, in his testimony on how the chief was a friend and advisor, said the late chief was a peace-loving man.
"In our beer drinking and catching up meetings he would emphasise his worry of violence, pointing out how other communities were losing people and development as a result of violence," Matinenga said.
"We are facing hard times ahead but we should always remember the chief's lessons on peace."
Chombo praised the late chief for promoting developmental issues in his area.
Source - Daily News
