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MDC-T apologises to Tsvangirai’s mother

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THE opposition MDC-T has apologised to the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s mother, Lydia Zvaipa, over the social media abuse she endured following the death of her son last week.

THE opposition MDC-T has apologised to the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s mother, Lydia Zvaipa, over the social media abuse she endured following the death of her son last week.

By Everson Mushava

Addressing delegates at a Southern Africa Political Economy Series debate on the legacy of Tsvangirai on Thursday, MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said the late MDC-T leader’s mother did not deserve the abuse she suffered on social media platforms, after she aired out her views on who she wanted at the funeral.

“First, we want to apologise for breaking the hearts of so many Zimbabweans who saw hope in us, who think that MDC-T holds the key to a better day tomorrow,” Mwonzora said.

Last Saturday, upon touching down at the Robert Mugabe International Airport with the body of her son, Gogo Zvaipa courted controversy when she declared that she would commit suicide if acting party president Nelson Chamisa and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth Macheka set foot at the former premier’s funeral.

“We want to apologise for the insults that were hurled at Morgan Tsvangirai’s mother in the social media and I remember one embarrassing one, where it’s a baboon or an ape was juxtaposed to her picture. Nothing can be more sadistic than that and whoever did it in the name of the MDC-T doesn’t belong to the party and we want to apologise,” Mwonzora said.

Tsvangirai died last week after a battle with cancer of the colon and was buried at his rural home in Buhera on Tuesday.

“An MDC-T with an improved culture is such a monolithic animal and an undefeatable animal and, therefore, we are working hard as an organisation to deal with that weakness,” he said.

“I want to apologise for the tribalist, sexist treatment of madam (Thokozani) Khupe. I, myself was not harmed and if I was harmed, I probably deserved it. But I know Khupe doesn’t deserve it and because we are sorry, I want to promise you that we will do better.”

Mwonzora also apologised for the ill-treatment of government officials, as well as police officers assigned to maintain order at the funeral.

Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa urged the opposition to be more vigilant ahead of this year’s general election to curb possible rigging by the ruling Zanu PF.