MDC-T lies about repatriating bodies of illegal Zim miners killed in South Africa

Reports published by the Morgan Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change that the party has paid a South African funeral parlour owned by a Zimbabwean businessman to ferry 22 bodies of Zimbabweans killed under yet unclear circumstances in a South African illegal mining fiasco this week have been proven to be all lies.

On Saturday morning the MDC-T South Africa branch and some of its official and unofficial foras ran on line postings hinting that the opposition party has paid Kings and Queens a South African based Zimbabwean funeral parlour to ferry the bodies to its Bulawayo parlour. According to their statement the party vice president Ms Thokozani Khuphe was to receive the bodies in the company of other high ranking party officials in Bulawayo at an unnamed date.

An extract of the statement from one of the MDC T's loud online mouths Boaz Mangamiso reads:

"Kings & Queens Funeral Parlour will transport the bodies to their respective destinations. Hon Thokozani Khupe and other leaders will receive the bodies at Kings & Queens Zimbabwe parlour."

Reports from South Africa however indicate completely the opposite of what the MDC T has announced. In the first case Kings and Queens funeral parlour has not been officially approached by anyone from the MDC T about the bodies. Only later Saturday morning did they get an enquiry from the task team of concerned Zimbabweans led by the South African branch of the Dumiso Dabengwa led ZAPU asking how far true the MDC T statement was so as to avoid conflicting efforts. It was at this juncture that the unfortunate truth unfolded.

Contacted for a comment the Chairman of ZAPU Johannesburg Mr Bongani Halimana Ndlovu who is leading the task team expressed shock and disappointment at the MDC T statement.

"MDC T are unfortunate liars. It has not been decided which Funeral parlour will be used. We got 2 parlours we are negotiating with and Kings and Queens is not yet one of them and we were yet to approach them," said Ndlovu.

"A meeting is in progress right now with the parlours to see what they can offer to help. The MDC T did not even make an offer at all, I was there when they arrived on site and what I know is that they only asked to see the coordinator but did not put anything on offer when they approached us."

A very disappointed Halimana Ndlovu urged the MDC T and any other interested parties to come forward and work with the task team than make press statements that are bound to jeopardise negotiations that are currently taking place with donors, service providers and families of the deceased.

"I don't understand how these very disturbing lies are being peddled, I can confirm that even MDC T RSA are saying they are broke and they will only be able to support the families in spirit. That's the truth of the matter for now, we will brief you more later as we are still very busy in negotiations with well wishers and service providers."

Commenting on the issue a member of one of the bereaved families from Lupane Mr Busani Ndlovu castigated the MDC T for making uncalled for statements while they are in great grief. "This is very silly of the MDC T. They have no respect of the dead and our culture. How can they make such unfounded statements at a time when we are lost of ideas how we will bury our beloved back home."

Mncedisi Tshabalala a ZAPU activist also involved in trying to repatriate the bodies back home also echoed Ndlovu's sentiments blaming the MDC T for trying to score cheap political mileage.

"Thokozani Khuphe's MDC was nowhere to be seen during the retrieval of bodies from the mine. Now they are trying to play politics and to be clever without even the spirit of ubuntu which would be respectful of the heroes that brought the bodies to surface and working with them."

In conclusion, Halimana Ndlovu who is leading the task team blamed the Zimbabwean government for the death of the Zimbabweans.

"This is all sad results of tyranny government that is good at absolutely nothing but to create dead situations like the Roodepoort Disaster. These innocent souls were not supposed to perish, it is because of the Zanu Pf government. Every day people cross the crocodile infested Limpopo river in search of greener pastures that Zanu pf is failing to provide," concluded Halimana.

Meanwhile, contrary to the MDC T statements all the 22 bodies of Zimbabweans so far recovered are still at the government mortuary in outskirts of Hillbrow not at the funeral parlour mentioned by the MDC T. Comment could not be sourced from the MDC T vice president Thokozani Khuphe.