Movement for Democratic Change national spokesman Obert Gutu has condemned the violence that erupted during the funeral of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai saying this is not acceptable to him.
Party vice-president Thokozani Khupe and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora were assaulted at Tsvangirai home where they had gone for the burial.
Tsvangirai died on Wednesday last week and was buried at his home in Buhera yesterday.
Nelson Chamisa was appointed acting president for 12 months, a move some say is unconstitutional.
Khupe said she was accused of being a dissident yet she was the elected vice-president who should have been the acting president.
Gutu, who seemed to be signaling that he was quitting the party, tweeted today: “Violence and thuggery as a tool for political mobilisation is simply not acceptable in my scheme of things. We are supposed to be a political party and not a rag tag armed militia.”
He followed this up with what he said was a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.
It said: I'm not going to continue associating myself with an organization that advocates for violence and thuggery. I'm a principled politician and professional. I'm NOT quitting politics. I'm going to contest in Harare East constituency in the 2018 elections.”
Gutu had indicated before Tsvangirai’s death that he would contest the Harare East seat which under the MDC Alliance was reportedly reserved for People’s Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti.
Biti held the seat before he was expelled from the party in 2014.
The MDC-T did not contest the by-election resulting in the seat being taken over by ZANU-PF’s Terence Mukupe.
Some of Chamisa’s supporters welcomed Gutu’s decision saying it was good riddance.
Cde Never Maswerasei, who admitted to being a Mnangagwa supporter, backed Gutu saying: “Welldone for standing up to this @nelsonchamisa nonsense. We cant sing songs & ullulate for a 40yr old quickly turning into another Mugabe.”
Exiled G40 member Jonathan Moyo also condemned the violence saying: “Sad that violence by supporters of @nelsonchamisa was visited upon MDC-T Vice President #DrThokozaniKhupe & MDC-T Mat North women's quota MP, #LwaziSibanda at #MorganTsvangirai's burial in #Buhera today. The violence is an ugly example of the new #ChunhuChedu #EntitlementMantra!”
Chamisa has in the meantime sent a message thanking the people who attended the burial.
“Thank you Zimbabwe for making a clear and unequivocal statement that underlined the hero status of our dear departed leader. Thank you Zimbabwe for the huge turn out that affirms your unstinting faith and support in what our leader believed in and the democratic struggle that he executed for an eventful life of 30 years,” he said.
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