Senior Zanu PF stalwarts, MDC and traditional leaders yesterday saluted the late MDC-T Senator for Mabutweni, Gladys Gombami, who was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery.
About 6 000 mourners from across the political divide attended the burial.
Speaker after speaker spoke highly of the late senator who died on Monday shortly after admission at a private clinic in Kadoma.
She reportedly felt dizzy while coming from a relative’s funeral in Gokwe. A post-mortem reportedly revealed that she died of bird flu. The President of the Chief’s Council, Fortune Charumbira, described the late senator as a level-headed and exemplary leader.
“We all know that in Copac, there is a war, a battlefield of egos; but this woman moderated,” Charumbira, a known Zanu PF stalwart, said.
“In politics, you can also get good people like Gombami. Two weeks ago, I spoke praising this woman.
“What we are saying here is not just because once you are dead, then you are good person. “Her contributions were marvellous.”
Over 60 MPs and 10 ministers from the inclusive government, traditional leaders, Deputy President of the Chief’s Council Mtshana Khumalo, Chief Masendu and Chief Ngungumbane attended the burial.
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Zanu PF was represented by Copac co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, Monica Mutsvangwa (Senator), Beatrice Nyamupinga (MP) and Sarah Mahoka (MP) while Siyabonga Ncube (MP) from MDC also attended the burial.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Nomalanga Khumalo and Zinti Mnkandla, who recently dumped the MDC led by Welshman Ncube, were also present.
“Some people complain that when they send people to Parliament, they don’t say anything,” Charumbira said.
“ If you read the Hansard, you will see that she made a lot of contributions.
“You will see the number of times she stood up and spoke on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. In politics, there is a problem because you get all sorts of characters; you get destructive and constructive brains.
“It’s an enterprise without qualifications. She was constructive.
“I want to tell politicians here that you should fight when you campaign, but once you get into Parliament, serve the people,” he said.
MDC-T leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said although Gombami had left a legacy of hard work within Copac, her death was shocking.
“Copac is a process that would move because we work together and are united as different political parties,” Tsvangirai said.
“The question is are you going to Copac because you are MDC or Zanu PF or you are going there for the national interest?
“I am sure that the leaders that we put in Copac will write a constitution for the people as she (Gombami) has shown. You may have your position as a party, but the country will not be run on the basis of a political party position. Only 10% of Zimbabweans are active in politics and 90% are not. Should we then compromise the interests of the majority because of your party?”
