by Grace Chekai

MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe`s visit to the opposition party`s founding father Morgan Tsvangirai`s rural home and gravesite was applauded by some party members and members of the Tsvangirai family despite attacks from self-claimed MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa`s faction that the former had gone to perform rituals.

Although Chamisa is attacking Khupe`s Buhera visit, his own images at Tsvangirai`s gravesite are circulating on social media with citizens describing Chamisa as a hypocrite who only wants things to go his way only.

A contact in the Tsvangirai Family who spoke to this publication expressed gratitude over Khupe`s visit and complained that Chamisa abandoned the family soon after his burial.

“We really appreciate the recognition being given to us by the MDC-T leader Thokozane Khupe. It shows that the legacy of the founder of this party will keep on going. Our wish is for the MDC-T party to continue championing the vision of the MDC-T founder, that is instilling peace and shunning violence,” said the contact.

The contact said the family was so humbled to realise how Khupe recognized Gogo Tsvangirai, the mother of the late MDC founder.

He revealed that Gogo Tsvangirai was not happy with how Chamisa unconstitutionally took over the party`s leadership following the demise of Tsvangirai. He added that ever since Tsvangirai`s death, Chamisa and his supporters never made efforts to support Gogo Tsvangirai.

During her visit, Khupe promised to continuously visit and support Gogo Tsvangirai.

The contact condemned Chamisa and his supporters for attacking Khupe`s visit to Tsvangirai`s grave urging her not to be discouraged as she was doing the right thing of honouring the founder of the MDC. He also revealed that the Tsvangirai family prefers Khupe who has shown more maturity than Chamisa’s political naivety and misfiring.

It is also alleged that the Tsvangirai family are at odds with Chamisa and Charlton Hwende who are accused of neglecting Morgan Tsvangirai on his deathbed, only to be bailed out by the Government.

The Tsvangirai family are also bitter with Chamisa whom they accuse of dating Elizabeth Macheka, Tsvangirai’s spouse, while Tsvangirai was battling for his life in hospital.

While some people equate the visit to the grave of a loved one to rituals, others take it as honouring that person and showing that his life had significance in their lives.