Two MDC formation blast Mugabe

Two MDC formations have castigated President Robert Mugabe's recent utterances reiterating that members of the opposition parties will never be buried at the national Heroes Acre.

Speaking at the burial of Zanu PF politburo member Kumbirai Kangai on Saturday, Mugabe said the Heroes' Acre was a preserve of Zanu PF-linked members only.

"They (MDC) want their zvitototo (buffoons) buried here. We say no. The only people we will bring here are the clean ones. Heroes of heroes," said Mugabe.

However, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said the Heroes' Acre was a national shrine therefore it belonged to Zimbabweans not Zanu PF.

"There is no MDC person who has clamoured to be buried at the Heroes' Acre, but the Heroes' Acre is not a place for Zanu PF members only, it is a place for Zimbabwe's heroes, so anybody who qualifies as a hero must be buried there, but Mugabe is just in a quarrelsome mood because of the stress of running this country without a plan," said Mwonzora.

Echoing Mwonzora's sentiments, MDC deputy spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said Mugabe's utterances were irresponsible.

"Mugabe's statement is both misleading and irresponsible," said Chihwayi. "The Heroes' Acre has been turned into a dump yard of both genuine heroes and criminals or people with a tainted past, hence the need for thorough cleansing of the shrine."

He added that the Heroes Acre was meant to be a national shrine where the country's heroes were laid to rest.

"As MDC, we view the Heroes' Acre as a Zanu PF shrine. It is sad to note that only people with a dark past and corrupt Zanu PF functionaries are buried at the Heroes' Acre. Mugabe's statement is likely to distort history and mislead the young people," Chihwayi said.

The decision to confer hero status solely lies with Zanu PFs' politburo members who choose whether or not one deserves to be laid to rest at the national Heroes' Acre.