Financial Gazette
21 July 2011
THE three parties in the coalition government yesterday shrugged off their political differences to attend the burial of the late national hero, Andrew Sikajaya Muntanga, at the National Heroes Acre, in a rare show of unity. Although Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was conspicuous by his absence, some of his party officials were present at the national shrine and so were officials from the Welshman Ncube-led formation of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara was also in attendance to bury the first legislator for Binga.
Muntanga, who was a Binga legislator from 1980 to 1985, died last week at the Medical Centre in the resort town of Victoria Falls after a long battle with heart complications.
Ministers David Coltart (MDC), Joel Gabbuza Gabuza (MDC-T), the current Binga House of Assembly member, were some of the former opposition supporters that braved the chilly weather to pay their last respect to the fallen giant from Binga.
Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T spokesperson, said the Prime Minister did not attend due to other pressing commitments.
“The Prime Minister did not attend; there was an (MDC-T) standing committee meeting and the party caucus, which coincided with the burial. Also we are planning for a memorial service of one of our late members, Rwisai Nyakauru where the Prime Minister is going to attend,” said Mwonzora.
In the past, the MDC formations have boycotted the burial of national heroes at the national shrine, arguing that the events were being turned into ZANU-PF private functions or political meetings at which President Robert Mugabe has on several occasions attacked his opponents.
But in a clear departure from his favourite pastime, President Mugabe shied away from attacking his partners in the shaky coalition government and the West.
In a toned down speech, President Mugabe instead heaped praises on the late nationalist, disappointing those who were anticipating his usual bashing of Prime Minister Tsvangirai, the MDC-T and the West.
In a brief mention of the Gukurahundi massacres, in his gravesite eulogy, President Mugabe said the period was nasty before brushing off the issue in which civil society organisations claim more than 20 000 people were killed in State-sponsored violence.