Paul Nyathi|The ruling ZANU PF party has all but conceded that Economic Freedom Fighters of South Africa leader Julius “Juju” Malema played a critical role in the snubbing of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dream of burying late former President Robert Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre.
In an interview with state media Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu said EFF leader Julius Malema, who was recently in the country, should not meddle in the internal politics as he is turning out to be G40’s mouthpiece.
“If you look at what happened when Julius Malema came into the country, Julius came here because he was sent by Kasukuwere and Zhuwao, who are in South Africa, to come and convince the former First Lady that they cannot allow former President to be buried at the Heroes Acre, why?
“Because their political game will not work.
“The person that is making a mistake is Julius Malema because I don’t think that it is proper for him to interfere with internal politics of Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe in general.
“He is a South African and in South Africa, no one will go there from any other country.
“So he has become the spokesperson and representative of G40 fugitives who are outside the country, but I don’t think it is good for him. I know for a fact that the president of G40 is Saviour Kasukuwere,” said Matutu.
Matutu said the decision to bury the former President in Zvimba was part of a money-making scheme.
Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, has actually credited EFF leader Julius Malema for pushing Zimbabwe’s government to honour his uncle’s burial wishes.
Mugabe died in a Singapore hospital on September 6 and was buried on Saturday.
On his website, Zhuwao thanked Malema for an interview he did in Zimbabwe in which he pushed the government to honour the former president’s wishes to be buried in his hometown in Zvimba instead of at Heroes Acre in Harare.
This despite Zanu-PF accusing Malema of demeaning the legacy of Mugabe and taking cheap shots at Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Thank you to the EFF and its Commander in Chief Honourable Julius Malema for consoling us and assisting the family of the late President Mugabe to have his wishes honoured on where he would like his mortal remains to be interred.
“After the family of the late President Mugabe expressed its desire to proceed with his burial in Zvimba, the government of Zimbabwe, in its press release dated 26 September 2019, indicated that it is co-operating with the family. The government of Zimbabwe will render all the necessary support to give the late President Mugabe a fitting burial led by the family,” said Zhuwao.