Own Correspondent|Zapu spokesperson Iphithile Maphosa has emotionally called on mourners who will attend National Hero and liberation war stalwart Dumiso Dabengwa’s Memorial Service and burial to only wear ZAPU regalia.

Speaking in a interview Maphosa said in honour of Dabengwa, only Zapu regalia should be worn at his funeral wake and burial.

“We anticipate to lay our greatest hero to rest on Saturday, June 1 at Manxeleni in Ntabazinduna, about 30 kilometres from Bulawayo. We welcome everyone’s continued support as we all celebrate the life of the finest citizen to ever come out of southern Africa, a friend to all and a father to the orphaned,” he said.

“We, however, would like to advise our friends who will be coming to mourn with us to respect Cde DD and everything that he stood for. President Dabengwa was Zapu in blood, thought and in deeds. Throughout his life he was a principled cadre of the Zapu ideology and teachings. In as much as we welcome all Zimbabweans at the celebration of our father, we will appreciate it if only Zapu regalia be conspicuous at his funeral and burial.”

Maphosa’s sentiments come amid revelations that firebrand MDC President Nelson Chamisa will attend the two high profile events and as is norm, thousands of his MDC followers will accompany him to the events and definitely dressed in MDC regalia.

Chamisa was incidentally publicly endorsed by Dabengwa as the future leader of the country in an MDC rally in Bulawayo just a few days before the highly contested elections in July last year.

MDC supporters known for who their are about their President and the party are expected to have their red regalia completely overshadow the yellow ZAPU regalia which Maphosa is inviting to dominate the gatherings.