THE MDC led by Welshman Ncube has condemned the decision by Zanu PF to confer liberation war hero status on controversial war veteran Wilson Kufa Chitoro, popularly known as Biggie Chitoro. NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
Chitoro died last week after a long illness and was buried at the Midlands Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Gweru on Tuesday.
MDC deputy national chairperson Frank Chamunorwa described Chitoro’s decoration as mind boggling and a total disregard for people’s feelings.
“The conferment of hero status on the notorious Biggie Chitoro of Mberengwa has riled me and I’m sure many of you who are acquainted with the dangerous and murderous exploits perpetrated at the behest of this sick man who unwittingly soiled the good name of war veterans,” Chamunorwa posted on his Facebook wall.
“What is mind boggling is the decision by Zanu PF elements in utter disregard of people’s feelings to elevate and ululate over bygones some of us had taken pains to forget. Call me naïve, but frankly I did not expect the leadership of Zanu PF to countenance such tragic episodes, shame.”
Midlands Provincial Affairs minister and Zanu PF provincial chairperson Jason Machaya on Monday said Chitoro was automatically declared a liberation war hero since he was an ex-freedom fighter.
The war veterans’ leader caused untold terror in Mberengwa during the land invasions in 2000, with the remote district suffering some of the worst violence and intimidation before that year’s elections.
Chitoro led war vets and Zanu PF supporters in attacking opposition MDC supporters.
