News / National
Mnangagwa accused of being intolerant
09 Oct 2015 at 03:34hrs | Views
Matabeleland South Senator Sithembile Mlotshwa (MDC-T) yesterday described Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa as intolerant, as she blasted him for his remarks that the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo lost the 1980 elections because he served white interests.
Contributing to a motion on the Presidential Speech in Senate, Mlotshwa said Zimbabwe should respect Nkomo's contributions to the independence of the country.
"I am even questioning why we have Unity Day when we do not respect the work of other people, and when we have individuals disappearing into thin air and are never found," she said.
"We need to see tolerance from the ruling party (Zanu-PF) for everyone who has opposing views because that is what we call democracy.
"For example, for someone to say the late Vice-President was a sell-out shows there are some people who do not respect the views of others.
"Nkomo was a founder of the liberation struggle, and it is unfortunate that the negative statements on Nkomo came from the Vice-President of this country."
Mnangagwa has been in the eye of a storm since he reportedly claimed the late former Rhodesian leader Ian Smith told him President Robert Mugabe won the 1980 elections, while Nkomo lost because he served white interests.
The Vice-President has shied away from the subject since, although he has attracted widespread condemnation and rebuke.
Mnangagwa was recently due to hold consultative meetings in Bulawayo, but he gave the province a wide berth, with officials claiming he was busy, yet he visited Matabeleland North and South, with analysts speculating it was because a storm over his remarks was still brewing in the city where Nkomo is revered.
Contributing to a motion on the Presidential Speech in Senate, Mlotshwa said Zimbabwe should respect Nkomo's contributions to the independence of the country.
"I am even questioning why we have Unity Day when we do not respect the work of other people, and when we have individuals disappearing into thin air and are never found," she said.
"We need to see tolerance from the ruling party (Zanu-PF) for everyone who has opposing views because that is what we call democracy.
"For example, for someone to say the late Vice-President was a sell-out shows there are some people who do not respect the views of others.
"Nkomo was a founder of the liberation struggle, and it is unfortunate that the negative statements on Nkomo came from the Vice-President of this country."
Mnangagwa has been in the eye of a storm since he reportedly claimed the late former Rhodesian leader Ian Smith told him President Robert Mugabe won the 1980 elections, while Nkomo lost because he served white interests.
The Vice-President has shied away from the subject since, although he has attracted widespread condemnation and rebuke.
Mnangagwa was recently due to hold consultative meetings in Bulawayo, but he gave the province a wide berth, with officials claiming he was busy, yet he visited Matabeleland North and South, with analysts speculating it was because a storm over his remarks was still brewing in the city where Nkomo is revered.
Source - Southern Eye
