Harare: THE United States Embassy in Harare has condemned violence against MDC-T deputy president, Thokozani Khupe and other senior party officials by party youths during the burial of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday.
Tsvangirai died on Wednesday last week after a long battle with colon cancer.
Khupe, secretary general Douglas Mwonzora and national organiser Abednico Bhebhe are opposed to acting MDC-T President, Nelson Chamisa decision to assume the party’s presidency following Tsvangirai’s death.
They survived an attempt on their lives during Tsvangirai’s burial in Buhera as party youths threatened to to burn the hut the trio had sought refuge in. They were rescued by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
“The United States Government strongly condemns the violence that occurred today at the funeral for Morgan Tsvangirai,” the US Embassy in Harare said.
“During his life, Mr. Tsvangirai stood in opposition of such violence and there exists no place for these types of actions today in Zimbabwe, as the country looks to set itself on a new course. We encourage all Zimbabweans to move forward together towards elections that are free, fair, transparent and most of all, nonviolent.”
Khupe and Mwonzora want the MDC T leadership dispute resolved in an extra-ordinary congress, but Chamisa’s die hard supporters argue otherwise.
Mwonzora on Tuesday said Khuphe’s attack was both “tribal and sexist”.
“The attack on @DrThoko_Khupe by a gang of sponsored and drunken goons at Dr Tsvangirai’s funeral was outrageous and sadistic. It was tribal, sexist and totally unacceptable
“The politics of hate and violence should not have any place in our society. Really sad developments at Dr. Tsvangirai’s funeral. The physical attack on DrThoko_Khupe was cowardly and sadistic,” he tweeted.
