Controversial Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been put to task over tribalism.
Mnangagwa on Wednesday defended himself saying government does not use either tribalism or regionalism in awarding liberation hero status to those who would have contributed immensely to the country.
He said this during the National Assembly Question and Answer session when responding to a question by Matabeleland South proportional representation MP Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
She had asked the VP on the criteria used by the government to award liberation hero status following one’s death.
She expressed concern over the government’s response following the deaths of three prominent academics last year: former National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Vice Chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu, the director of the African Institute of Agrarian Studies Professor Sam Moyo and University of Zimbabwe’s senior lecturer Vimbai Chivaura.
She queried why only Chivaura was accorded liberation hero status yet the three academics’ contributions were all well-known. VP Mnangagwa said the government does not discriminate based on where people come but responds to requests made by provinces.

“They would not have approached the government because if you’re working, you will be assisted without any tribalism being involved. When you’re working, it’s for the betterment of the country and not for a particular tribe.”
The VP also explained the difference between a liberation war and liberation hero.
“A liberation war hero is a person who carried a gun. A liberation hero is someone who may have been outside or within the country but did not hold the gun but did some work which is known that he or she was a nationalist who supported the freedom of this country,” he explained.
“So in that manner, there are people who were not of age, like the learned brothers, whom we didn’t think would participate in the war but after independence, we realised that their works are good and have uplifted the country.” – State Media