News / National
Bennett accuse colleagues of 'telling lies' and 'stupidity' over Nkomo tributes
18 Jan 2013 at 15:29hrs | Views
ROY Bennett broke ranks with his MDC-T party on Thursday over tributes to the late Vice President John Nkomo, accusing colleagues of "telling lies" and "stupidity".
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai described Nkomo as "an eminent nationalist, a liberation war icon and a committed patriot who will be sadly missed by all Zimbabweans", while extending "heartfelt condolences over the loss of such a committed Zimbabwean".
The party's spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said "Nkomo's politics was different from that of his colleagues which is that of blood", adding: "He was a reconciliatory man and befittingly he was leading the Organ on National Healing."
But Bennett, the party's treasurer who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, said the tributes showed that the deaths of prominent Zanu-PF politicians were becoming "occasions for all sorts of nonsense and stupidity".
He made reference to a tribute by the United States embassy which said Nkomo was a "patriot who dedicated his life to Zimbabwe's sovereignty and prosperity" - hardly any more gushing than those of Tsvangirai and Mwonzora.
"Excuse me. We may not like to speak ill of the dead, but let's not tell lies," stormed Bennett, a white former commercial farmer once jailed for assaulting Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa in parliament.
He went on: "How can anyone with any sense say that John Nkomo dedicated his life to Zimbabwe's prosperity? Since the 1980s, he has sat at the heart of the beast that has destroyed Zimbabwe's economy. He has held the hand of the dictator that has obliterated our hopes and freedoms.
"He must now be remembered by the choices he made. He chose to oppose the people, rather than serve them. He walked around in tailor-made suits while Zimbabweans walked in rags. He received private medical treatment in South Africa, while Zimbabweans in South Africa were dying in the townships."
Bennett said his advice to "the Americans and others who appear to be bending over backward to show their neutrality in 2013" was: "Better to shut-up and say nothing than to insult the millions of Zimbabweans who have been murdered and impoverished by Zanu PF."
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai described Nkomo as "an eminent nationalist, a liberation war icon and a committed patriot who will be sadly missed by all Zimbabweans", while extending "heartfelt condolences over the loss of such a committed Zimbabwean".
The party's spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said "Nkomo's politics was different from that of his colleagues which is that of blood", adding: "He was a reconciliatory man and befittingly he was leading the Organ on National Healing."
But Bennett, the party's treasurer who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, said the tributes showed that the deaths of prominent Zanu-PF politicians were becoming "occasions for all sorts of nonsense and stupidity".
He made reference to a tribute by the United States embassy which said Nkomo was a "patriot who dedicated his life to Zimbabwe's sovereignty and prosperity" - hardly any more gushing than those of Tsvangirai and Mwonzora.
"Excuse me. We may not like to speak ill of the dead, but let's not tell lies," stormed Bennett, a white former commercial farmer once jailed for assaulting Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa in parliament.
He went on: "How can anyone with any sense say that John Nkomo dedicated his life to Zimbabwe's prosperity? Since the 1980s, he has sat at the heart of the beast that has destroyed Zimbabwe's economy. He has held the hand of the dictator that has obliterated our hopes and freedoms.
"He must now be remembered by the choices he made. He chose to oppose the people, rather than serve them. He walked around in tailor-made suits while Zimbabweans walked in rags. He received private medical treatment in South Africa, while Zimbabweans in South Africa were dying in the townships."
Bennett said his advice to "the Americans and others who appear to be bending over backward to show their neutrality in 2013" was: "Better to shut-up and say nothing than to insult the millions of Zimbabweans who have been murdered and impoverished by Zanu PF."
Source - news
