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Mnangagwa still deciding on Tsvangirai memorial
24 Apr 2019 at 10:16hrs | Views
Permanent secretary in the ministry of Information Nick Mangwana said government will in due course give a position on whether or not President Emmerson Mnangagwa will attend former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's memorial next week "for security reasons".
Mnangagwa and opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa have both been invited to attend Tsvangirai's memorial at Humanikwa village in Buhera on May 4. Tsvangirai died in February last year after a long battle with cancer. He had been diagnosed with the disease in 2016.
"We cannot disclose the itinerary of the president this early for security reasons. We are going to give a position when the time comes," Mangwana said.
Despite Mangwana being non-committal on the issue, other sources close to the presidency said Mnangagwa will attend the memorial service because Tsvangirai was not just family to him but also served as Prime Minister at a critical juncture in the country's history.
Spokesperson of the Tsvangirai family Manase Tsvangirai, a young brother to the late former trade unionist said the event was open to everyone.
"This memorial is open to everyone be it political parties, churches, individuals or other organisations, everybody is being invited," Manase said adding "the reason is that Morgan made friends with everyone during the Government of National Unity, so we cannot be found singling out some people that they must not attend".
"Even Zanu-PF is invited. We have sent invitations through the right protocol channels. We also invited ... Mnangagwa, we sent through the invitation and an accompanying letter. Morgan was a former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and not of a party and because of that there is no way we can have selected people to attend. Morgan worked for Zimbabwe and we are saying everyone, ... is invited. This is going to be a very big function," he added.
Tsvangirai received a courtesy call from Mnangagwa and other senior government officials at his house in Harare shortly before his demise. He was also given a State assisted funeral. However, many in the MDC, including Chamisa believe that the State played a role in Tsvangirai's death.
Addressing party supporters at a campaign rally in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza ahead of elections last year Chamisa alleged Zanu-PF had a hand in the death of the former MDC leader.
The MDC leader claimed there were informers in Zanu-PF who were feeding him with information.
Mnangagwa and opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa have both been invited to attend Tsvangirai's memorial at Humanikwa village in Buhera on May 4. Tsvangirai died in February last year after a long battle with cancer. He had been diagnosed with the disease in 2016.
"We cannot disclose the itinerary of the president this early for security reasons. We are going to give a position when the time comes," Mangwana said.
Despite Mangwana being non-committal on the issue, other sources close to the presidency said Mnangagwa will attend the memorial service because Tsvangirai was not just family to him but also served as Prime Minister at a critical juncture in the country's history.
Spokesperson of the Tsvangirai family Manase Tsvangirai, a young brother to the late former trade unionist said the event was open to everyone.
"Even Zanu-PF is invited. We have sent invitations through the right protocol channels. We also invited ... Mnangagwa, we sent through the invitation and an accompanying letter. Morgan was a former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and not of a party and because of that there is no way we can have selected people to attend. Morgan worked for Zimbabwe and we are saying everyone, ... is invited. This is going to be a very big function," he added.
Tsvangirai received a courtesy call from Mnangagwa and other senior government officials at his house in Harare shortly before his demise. He was also given a State assisted funeral. However, many in the MDC, including Chamisa believe that the State played a role in Tsvangirai's death.
Addressing party supporters at a campaign rally in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza ahead of elections last year Chamisa alleged Zanu-PF had a hand in the death of the former MDC leader.
The MDC leader claimed there were informers in Zanu-PF who were feeding him with information.
Source - dailynews
