THE MDC formations yesterday boycotted Heroes’ Day commemorations at Nkulumane Heroes Acre in Bulawayo which were virtually turned into Zanu PF victory celebrations following President Robert Mugabe’s controversial win in the July 31 polls.
Report By Nqobile Bhebhe, Chief Reporter
Zanu PF supporters were clad in party regalia doled out during Mugabe’s star rallies ahead of the polls whose outcome has been challenged in the Constitutional Court by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Mugabe won 61% of the vote and Tsvangirai 33 %.
The celebrations were attended by Zanu PF supporters, relatives of the fallen heroes and security forces. The MDC led by Welshman Ncube said the absence of its officials at the heroes’ acre did not mean that the party was not celebrating the day.
“Celebrating Heroes Day must not and cannot be a measurement in terms of going to one of the district, provincial or indeed national heroes’ shrine,” MDC said.
“While it is great to meet at these places and gather with other citizens in remembrance of our fallen and living liberation heroes, the suggestion that celebrating Heroes Day at home or anywhere else is tantamount to not celebrating and acknowledging the importance of the day is simply untrue”
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said there was no need to attend a Zanu PF rally disguised as a celebration of the country’s fallen sons and daughters.
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Bulawayo Metropolitan province governor Cain Mathema read Mugabe’s speech that was also read at other gatherings across the country.
