By A Correspondent

Zanu PF hardliners, known as Varakashi, have issued a stern threat to the family of the late former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko after they blocked his burial at the National Heroes Acre.

Mphoko, who passed away recently, was laid to rest in Bulawayo over the weekend rather than at the national shrine in Harare, a decision that has sparked controversy.

On Monday, Varakashi, who are aligned with the Operation Restore Legacy movement, voiced their disapproval in a statement.

They warned that relatives of national heroes who refuse to have their loved ones buried at the National Heroes Acre should also forgo the benefits that come with such status.

“Relatives of deceased national heroes who decide that their departed National hero or heroine relatives should not be buried at the national shrine, must also decline the attendant benefits that come with the status,” the Varakashi said in a statement.

The statement reflects the hardline stance of some Zanu PF factions, emphasizing that the National Heroes Acre is a symbol of national pride and unity, and that the decision to bury Mphoko elsewhere was seen as a snub to the country’s history and its heroes.

The family’s choice to bury Mphoko in Bulawayo has, therefore, led to a growing rift between the Varakashi and the Mphoko family.