Did Mnangagwa snub Zanele Moyo burial?

HARARE – Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is said to be in Zambia to attend a meeting of former University of Zambia students and did not attend the burial of Zanele Moyo, daughter to Higher Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo.

Zanele (20), who died last week, was buried at Glen Forest Memorial Park yesterday.

Mnangagwa, a former student at the university, returned to his alma mater for the function and his flight was scheduled for 2pm, the same time Zanele’s burial began.

Mnangagwa visited Prof Moyo’s Borrowdale home on Thursday and addressed mourners describing Zanele’s death as a tragedy.

“The parents sent her to university expecting that she would come back with skills,” he said. “Suddenly, her life was cut short. A girl at that age, what wrong could she have done to deserve such a death?

“Only the Lord knows what happened to Zanele. We are told the record of death does not give adequate information to show the cause of death except to say investigations are continuing.

“We all know death exists, we are all graves, but our wish as parents is to have our children and grandchildren looking after us, but Jehovah has his own way of doing things and he cannot be questioned.”

Mnangagwa said Zanele had her dreams which were not fulfilled.

“Zanele aspired to be a lawyer and work for Zimbabwe,” he said. “As parents, we inspire to educate our children. Zvino kana demo rouya richitema vana ivava? It shows that whenever we are, no matter what age, death can come according to the will of God.”

Relations between Mnangagwa and Moyo are at an all time low. Moyo is a key member of the Generation 40 faction in Zanu PF that is working hard to undermine Mnangagwa’s chances of succeeding President Mugabe. The G40 faction as they are known, have roped in First Lady Grace Mugabe in their audacious attempt at stopping Mnangagwa.

Until last Saturday when he received news of the death of his daughter, Zanele in South Africa, Moyo has been prolific on twitter, relentlessly mocking Mnangagwa, who is known as the crocodile, or Ngwena, in ZANU-PF circles.

In one twitter post, Moyo asked: “Is it really a crocodile or an ambitious lizard?”
In another, he said: “Here comes Zimbabwe’s latest craze, Croco Burgar. Yave nyama yekugocha (it’s now barbeque meat).”