Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda says he will attend the funeral of former President Robert Mugabe since it was a national event.

Matemadanda said he will also be attending the funeral to support President Mnangagwa.
The declaration by the tough-talking Matemadanda puts to rest unconfirmed social media reports that the Zanu-PF Political Commissar and war veterans’ secretary general has been barred from attending the funeral wake.

Speaking on a live radio programme on Classic 263 on Monday, Matemadanda said he was going to attend as Mugabe was not a family person but a national asset.

He said no family member has the right to decide who attends a funeral and who doesn’t.
“I am going to attend the funeral as a leader in the Zanu-PF hierarchy and to support my President Mnangagwa,” said Matemadanda.

“No one in the Mugabe family has the right to decide who attends; they are too small for that, not at this juncture. They don’t tell us how to bury our heroes, they are not heroes.

“(Cde) Mugabe is a national person and as such, I will attend and if they don’t want me to view the body then I don’t mind but I will be there as a war veteran and a Government minister.” Matemadanda said he has not yet withdrawn what he said about the late Mugabe during the infamous interface rallies.

“Let everyone be reminded that I haven’t withdrawn what I said about Mugabe that Zimbabwe was not a family dynasty. I still stick to that up to this day. Zimbabwe is not a dynasty.

“People must know that I was representing all war veterans when I made those remarks. But that does not mean someone has to bar me from attending the funeral; no it’s too late now.

“In our culture, we don’t fight over dead people and who can want to do that. He (Mugabe) was a human who had his mistakes but we will give him a befitting send off,” he added.State media