Tsvangirai's children snubbed memorial service organised by Mwonzora

The children of the late Morgan Tsvangirai, the founding leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), have reportedly snubbed a memorial service organised in his honour by Douglas Mwonzora, the current leader of the MDC-T. The memorial service, set to take place today at Tsvangirai's rural homestead in Humanikwa village, Buhera, is aimed at celebrating his legacy as a champion of democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai, who passed away on February 14, 2018, was a key figure in Zimbabwe's opposition politics, having led MDC through a turbulent era in the country's political history.

Mwonzora's spokesperson, Lloyd Damba, confirmed the memorial event, describing it as an annual service to honour Tsvangirai. "Yes, there is a memorial service [in honour of the late Tsvangirai]. It's simply that, a memorial service of our icon. It was decided that every February 14, we will be remembering him, and the best place to start off with is his rural Buhera home," Damba told NewsDay Weekender.

However, despite the official confirmation, several of Tsvangirai's children have distanced themselves from the event, citing a family dispute over the arrangements.

Garikai Tsvangirai, one of the late leader's sons, expressed his dissatisfaction with the memorial's organisation. "There is a family dispute over that issue on decision making. There are various sources over those issues, and political parties are involved. But as the immediate family, we have not been in agreement with the arrangement. So I can neither confirm nor deny. As the children, we are not in agreement, so we are possibly not attending," Garikai stated.

Vincent, another son of Tsvangirai and former MDCT legislator for Glen View South, also made it clear that he would not attend. "I am not attending. I am not aware of any memorial service for my father. I refer you to the party (MDC), they know better about the event," Vincent said.

Richard, who serves as the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator for Norton, also confirmed he would not be attending, citing other commitments. "I have other commitments. I am aware that there is a memorial service for my father, but I am not attending," Richard told NewsDay Weekender.

The disagreement has sparked further division among Zimbabwe's opposition factions. While Mwonzora's MDC-T faction is holding its service in Buhera, other factions are also commemorating Tsvangirai's life in different ways. A faction of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), aligned with former leader Nelson Chamisa, held a separate memorial service in Masvingo yesterday, attended by female party members from across the country.

Meanwhile, Welshman Ncube, leader of another CCC faction, postponed a memorial lecture planned for today in Bulawayo. The lecture has now been rescheduled for March 8, 2025, to allow the participation of Tsvangirai's friends and relatives, as noted by CCC spokesperson Willias Madzimure.

The ongoing divisions within Zimbabwe's opposition parties appear to reflect the broader challenges the movement faces, even as it seeks to honour the memory of its late leader.