News / Regional
Fierce fight over dead miners
09 Mar 2014 at 08:42hrs | Views
SOME of the 22 Zimbabweans who died at a disused South African mine last week arrived in Bulawayo yesterday morning amid a war of words between the country's main political parties desperate to claim credit for the repatriation of the bodies.
The bodies, repatriated by the Johannesburg-based Queens and Kings Funeral Parlour, arrived in the early hours of yesterday before they were taken to the deceased's homes in Kezi, Nkayi and Gokwe respectively.
On the eve of the arrival of the bodies, the country's main political parties were locked in a fierce war of words as they sought to claim credit for the repatriation of the bodies.
MDC-T claimed that its supporters in the Diaspora had mobilised funds to assist in the repatriation and burial of the dead miners.
The Morgan Tsvangirai-led party accused Zanu PF of trying to gain mileage from the deaths yet its policies had driven the youths to their deaths at the abandoned mine.
Zapu accused its opponents of suffering from a "vulture syndrome" by jostling for the limelight and taking advantage of the mourners.
Bulawayo East MP Tabitha Khumalo who was seconded by Tsvangirai to facilitate the burials, said they were taken aback by Zanu PF's sudden interest in the death of the miners, yet the government had not done anything to assist families.
"They just want to get the glory of the Zimbabweans yet they did nothing from the onset," she said.
Zapu condemned the politicking that has overshadowed the deaths, saying it was inhuman for political parties to be grandstanding during a time when families were mourning.
"As a party, we have refrained at all levels from politicising the deaths of our young people, to respect the memory of these young people regardless of their political affiliations," Zapu said in a statement on Friday.
"We are also sensitive to the grief of family, friends and communities of those who died in the tragic circumstances.
"It is sad that there are already signs of the usual jostling for the spotlight by various political players.
"Without singling anyone, we hereby condemn the vulture syndrome whereby political entities seek attention and publicity and pretend to cry more than the bereaved.
"It would have been helpful if all Zimbabweans rallied to the plight of the families instead of waiting for the microphones and the convoys to arrive," the party added.
The miners are suspected to have died after inhaling high levels of carbon monoxide underground.
Unused mines throughout South Africa, suspected to have huge gold deposits, have attracted scores of unemployed people from the Southern African region who are working with some South Africans in the mines.
The bodies, repatriated by the Johannesburg-based Queens and Kings Funeral Parlour, arrived in the early hours of yesterday before they were taken to the deceased's homes in Kezi, Nkayi and Gokwe respectively.
On the eve of the arrival of the bodies, the country's main political parties were locked in a fierce war of words as they sought to claim credit for the repatriation of the bodies.
MDC-T claimed that its supporters in the Diaspora had mobilised funds to assist in the repatriation and burial of the dead miners.
The Morgan Tsvangirai-led party accused Zanu PF of trying to gain mileage from the deaths yet its policies had driven the youths to their deaths at the abandoned mine.
Zapu accused its opponents of suffering from a "vulture syndrome" by jostling for the limelight and taking advantage of the mourners.
Bulawayo East MP Tabitha Khumalo who was seconded by Tsvangirai to facilitate the burials, said they were taken aback by Zanu PF's sudden interest in the death of the miners, yet the government had not done anything to assist families.
"They just want to get the glory of the Zimbabweans yet they did nothing from the onset," she said.
"As a party, we have refrained at all levels from politicising the deaths of our young people, to respect the memory of these young people regardless of their political affiliations," Zapu said in a statement on Friday.
"We are also sensitive to the grief of family, friends and communities of those who died in the tragic circumstances.
"It is sad that there are already signs of the usual jostling for the spotlight by various political players.
"Without singling anyone, we hereby condemn the vulture syndrome whereby political entities seek attention and publicity and pretend to cry more than the bereaved.
"It would have been helpful if all Zimbabweans rallied to the plight of the families instead of waiting for the microphones and the convoys to arrive," the party added.
The miners are suspected to have died after inhaling high levels of carbon monoxide underground.
Unused mines throughout South Africa, suspected to have huge gold deposits, have attracted scores of unemployed people from the Southern African region who are working with some South Africans in the mines.
Source - Southern Eye
