MDC-T national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe has defended party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision not to attend the burial of Nkulumane MP Thamsanqa Mahlangu last week, saying it was unbefitting for such a high-profile politician to get entangled in petty family feuds.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Tsvangirai stayed away from Mahlangu’s burial, saying he would only attend after the three families fighting for control of funeral proceedings had resolved their differences, a decision that has won him both praise and condemnation.
MDC-T chairman Lovemore Moyo reportedly expressed his displeasure at Tsvangirai’s no-show, but Bhebhe said the main opposition leader could not be seen being part of the chaotic events.
“Why and who used the MDCVAA (MDC-T Veteran Activists’ Association) and some MDC-T activists to aid Mugova (Mahlangu’s stepfather) to violently take over the funeral wake and block the Sangos (the late legislator’s paternal relatives) from burying their son? Is this not daylight witchcraft?
“This is bizarre to say the least. Surely, there is no normal human being who would expect the president and leadership to endorse this bizarre African taboo,” he told Southern Eye.
Bhebhe said MDC-T factionalism was at play, as deputy president Thokozani Khupe and her group had reportedly camped in Luveve at the Sangos, while a rival faction was at the stepfather’s house.
Mahlangu grew up at his grandmother’s house in Luveve, before moving to Nkulumane to stay with his stepfather.
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Only three senior MDC-T officials from outside Bulawayo attended Mahlangu’s burial at Lady Stanley Cemetery – Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa, Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya and MDC-T chief whip Innocent Gonese.
Moyo is said to have registered his displeasure at Tsvangirai’s no-show in a WhatsApp chat group of some MDC-T national standing committee members.
Party spokesman Obert Gutu has also defended Tsvangirai, saying had he attended either of the wakes, he would have been seen as if he was taking sides. But Moyo insisted the absence of senior leaders at the burial was despicable and dissociated himself from the decision.
Mahlangu, who died early last week after a long battle with cancer, was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo amid chaos last Saturday.
