Opinion / Columnist
Who will miss out being buried at the Heroes Acre, Mnangagwa or Mugabe?
12 Nov 2017 at 09:49hrs | Views
Being buried at the Heroes Acre seems to be very important for members of Zanu-PF when they are gone. It is an honour that appears to be bestowed to those who are loyal to the party not necessarily the country or the people of Zimbabwe as a whole but I digress.
Since Emmerson Mnangagwa was ousted from his post as the Vice President of Zimbabwe accused of disloyalty and treason, there is little chance that he will be buried at the Heroes Acre if he dies while President Robert Mugabe or his wife Grace Mugabe are still in power. He is now their perceived enemy.
On the flip side, if Mugabe and Grace are no longer in power, possibly ousted by Mnangagwa or defeated in elections, will Robert Mugabe be buried at the Heroes Acre at the time of his passing considering the anger he has inspired among the war veterans?
A senior Zapu official, John Dlamini, was quoted saying that President Robert Mugabe does not deserve to be buried at the National Heroes Acre because of his role in activities that contributed to Zimbabwe's poor human rights record.
Addressing a gathering at a public meeting at Mtshazo Business Centre in Gwanda North constituency, Dlamini said: "Because of his record of human rights abuses, Mugabe does not even deserve to be buried at the National Heroes Acre should he die for he has insulted the very essence of humanity."
"Places such as the Heroes Acre were originally created for well-meaning sons and daughters…a qualification Mugabe does not have".
The comments came after Zanu PF's refusal to grant renowned musician Dick Chingaira national hero status despite his immense contribution to the liberation struggle.
Otherwise known as Cde Chinx, Chingaira was buried recently at the Glen Forest Memorial Park, on the outskirts of Harare, after succumbing to cancer.
Zanu PF had demeaned him to a lesser status of liberation war hero and was supposed to be buried at the Harare Provincial Heroes Acre but his family opted for a private cemetery.
Since Emmerson Mnangagwa was ousted from his post as the Vice President of Zimbabwe accused of disloyalty and treason, there is little chance that he will be buried at the Heroes Acre if he dies while President Robert Mugabe or his wife Grace Mugabe are still in power. He is now their perceived enemy.
On the flip side, if Mugabe and Grace are no longer in power, possibly ousted by Mnangagwa or defeated in elections, will Robert Mugabe be buried at the Heroes Acre at the time of his passing considering the anger he has inspired among the war veterans?
A senior Zapu official, John Dlamini, was quoted saying that President Robert Mugabe does not deserve to be buried at the National Heroes Acre because of his role in activities that contributed to Zimbabwe's poor human rights record.
"Places such as the Heroes Acre were originally created for well-meaning sons and daughters…a qualification Mugabe does not have".
The comments came after Zanu PF's refusal to grant renowned musician Dick Chingaira national hero status despite his immense contribution to the liberation struggle.
Otherwise known as Cde Chinx, Chingaira was buried recently at the Glen Forest Memorial Park, on the outskirts of Harare, after succumbing to cancer.
Zanu PF had demeaned him to a lesser status of liberation war hero and was supposed to be buried at the Harare Provincial Heroes Acre but his family opted for a private cemetery.
Source - Nomalizwe Mbulu
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