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(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai heckled by Tekere mourners

Tsvangirai heckled by Tekere mourners
Posted by By Our reporter at 9 June, at 01 : 25 AM Print

MOURNERS at the funeral of the late nationalist Edgar Tekere Wednesday jeered MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, forcing him to retreat in a huff. Tsvangirai – who was accompanied by among others his secretary Ian Makone, spokesman Luke Tambo-rinyoka and head of protocol James Maridadi – arrived at the late 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 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 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 Tsvangirai offered his condolences to 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, 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.

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 unAfrican. 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 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.”

The Herald/TZG

Labels: FUNERALS, IAN MAKONE, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 6:09 PM