News / National
Zanu-PF hijacks Tekere's death, mourners heckle Tsvangirai
09 Jun 2011 at 07:15hrs | Views
MOURNERS at the funeral of Cde Edgar Tekere Wednesday jeered MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, forcing him to retreat in a huff.
Mr Tsvangirai - who was accompanied by among others his secretary Mr Ian Makone, spokesman Mr Luke Tambo-rinyoka and head of protocol Mr James Maridadi - arrived at Cde Tekere's Bordervale home at around 4pm.
The mourners told the PM that he was not in charge of the country, but President Mugabe.
Some of the mourners continued with their chores without acknowledging the MDC-T leader's arrival while others could be seen offloading firewood from a lorry.
A handful of Mr Tsvangirai's supporters, who included Mutare councillors, welcomed him and escorted him into the house.
But more drama awaited him inside.
The mourners, mostly women, sang revolutionary songs reminding Mr Tsvangirai that only President Mugabe was the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
The singing did not stop as Mr Tsvangirai offered his condolences to Cde Tekere's widow, Pamela.
The MDC-T leader sat for close to 10 minutes during which time the singing even became louder and drowned his voice.
MDC-T members appealed to the Tekere family spokesman, Mr Steven Kada, to restrain the mourners, but they would have none of it, forcing the PM to beat a hasty retreat with his delegation.
His supporters also left.
Mr Tamborinyoka said what was important was that his boss paid his condolences.
"These mourners are trying to hijack the body of a person who did not belong to their party. This is indecent and un-African. What is important is that the Prime Minister has managed to offer his condolences," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara, who arrived shortly after Mr Tsvangirai, mingled with the mourners who included Zanu-PF Central Committee members and war veterans.
In an interview, he said: "What happened here is not of much importance because we are here to mourn our hero, Cde Tekere.
"We are all products of Cde Tekere's sacrifices and people are free to express themselves."
Mr Tsvangirai - who was accompanied by among others his secretary Mr Ian Makone, spokesman Mr Luke Tambo-rinyoka and head of protocol Mr James Maridadi - arrived at Cde Tekere's Bordervale home at around 4pm.
The mourners told the PM that he was not in charge of the country, but President Mugabe.
Some of the mourners continued with their chores without acknowledging the MDC-T leader's arrival while others could be seen offloading firewood from a lorry.
A handful of Mr Tsvangirai's supporters, who included Mutare councillors, welcomed him and escorted him into the house.
But more drama awaited him inside.
The mourners, mostly women, sang revolutionary songs reminding Mr Tsvangirai that only President Mugabe was the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
The MDC-T leader sat for close to 10 minutes during which time the singing even became louder and drowned his voice.
MDC-T members appealed to the Tekere family spokesman, Mr Steven Kada, to restrain the mourners, but they would have none of it, forcing the PM to beat a hasty retreat with his delegation.
His supporters also left.
Mr Tamborinyoka said what was important was that his boss paid his condolences.
"These mourners are trying to hijack the body of a person who did not belong to their party. This is indecent and un-African. What is important is that the Prime Minister has managed to offer his condolences," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara, who arrived shortly after Mr Tsvangirai, mingled with the mourners who included Zanu-PF Central Committee members and war veterans.
In an interview, he said: "What happened here is not of much importance because we are here to mourn our hero, Cde Tekere.
"We are all products of Cde Tekere's sacrifices and people are free to express themselves."
Source - TH
