News / National
Gamatox, Weevils clash at Midzi funeral
11 Jun 2015 at 07:52hrs | Views
THE mysterious death of former Cabinet minister and suspended Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Amos Midzi, who was 62, at his Munandi Farm in Beatrice on Tuesday raised tempers yesterday as rival Zanu-PF factions clashed over control of the proceedings at his funeral wake.
Ousted Vice-President Joice Mujuru visited the Midzi residence in Mt Pleasant, Harare, to pay her last respects to his family yesterday afternoon.
This came amid speculative reports that opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was last night also expected to visit the Midzi family home in Mt Pleasant to pay his condolences.
A tense atmosphere gripped the gathering after fired and suspended Zanu-PF officials - now known as People First - started dictating terms and playing a leading role in the proceedings.
Mbare MP Tendai Savanhu led the group linked to People First reportedly fronted by Mujuru, in controlling the funeral proceedings with Midzi's family.
Zanu-PF Harare political commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe accused the People First grouping of trying to hijack Midzi's funeral and "wrongfully claiming him as if he was theirs".
"Midzi was not People First, he was Zanu-PF and I know that because I worked with him. He was not recalled from Parliament and there was no intention to do so, meaning the party leadership knew what he stood for," Mashayamombe said.
"They should not claim him. He was Zanu-PF and we are going to bury him as Zanu-PF."
Ousted Vice-President Joice Mujuru visited the Midzi residence in Mt Pleasant, Harare, to pay her last respects to his family yesterday afternoon.
This came amid speculative reports that opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was last night also expected to visit the Midzi family home in Mt Pleasant to pay his condolences.
A tense atmosphere gripped the gathering after fired and suspended Zanu-PF officials - now known as People First - started dictating terms and playing a leading role in the proceedings.
Zanu-PF Harare political commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe accused the People First grouping of trying to hijack Midzi's funeral and "wrongfully claiming him as if he was theirs".
"Midzi was not People First, he was Zanu-PF and I know that because I worked with him. He was not recalled from Parliament and there was no intention to do so, meaning the party leadership knew what he stood for," Mashayamombe said.
"They should not claim him. He was Zanu-PF and we are going to bury him as Zanu-PF."
Source - newsday
