“The Truth Is That Mnangagwa Is Not Wanted Here", Dabengwa Family Member

The Independent reports that a close member of the Dabengwa family has plainly said that president Mnangagwa is not welcome to attend the funeral and burial of the late former Home Affairs Minister, Dumiso Dabengwa. The burial of the late ZIPRA commander is scheduled for tomorrow at Ntabazinduna in Matebeleland.

The family member is quoted as having said:

The truth is that Mnangagwa is not wanted here. The mood is sombre and explosive. If he attends, he might be confronted with hostility as a result of the frosty relations that existed between the two of them and the tensions within the family over his role in persecuting Dabengwa.

Besides the stance the family is taking, Mnangagwa might view attending the funeral as difficult considering that his major and bitter rivals including MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni and Dabengwa’s allies from the region, especially South Africa have been invited to attend the event.

Dabengwa and Mnangagwa are believed to have shared a sour relationship as a result of the latter’s involvement in Dabengwa’s incarceration and Gukurahundi.

Nevertheless, Mnangagwa made several attempts in 2018 to have Dabengwa rejoin Zanu PF and government and they were all declined. Dabengwa is believed to have said that he would only serve in government as a Zapu leader in line with the 1987 Unity Accord between PF Zapu and Zanu PF.

Dabengwa is also argued to have asked the government to return of Zapu properties and to implement the devolution of power as enshrined in the constitution.

More: The Independent