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Hurungudo family blames Zanu PF for delayed burial

Politics
THE family of the late Zanu PF central committee member Retired Brigadier General Boniface Hurungudo who died nine days ago has blamed bickering in the ruling party for his delayed burial and announcement of hero status.

THE family of the late Zanu PF central committee member Retired Brigadier General Boniface Hurungudo who died nine days ago has blamed bickering in the ruling party for his delayed burial and announcement of hero status.

BY OBEY MANAYITI

Hurungudo was the Zanu PF losing candidate for Glen View South in the 2013 elections and was also linked to the Magamba eChimurenga Housing Cooperative.

Hurungudo reportedly died last week on Monday at a private hospital in Harare and his body has been at One Commando Barracks where a funeral parade was held for him yesterday.

Family members who spoke to NewsDay on condition of anonymity said they were made to wait for over a week before a decision was made on burial arrangements as some officials kept promising that he would be declared either a provincial or national hero.

“I believe the reason for this prolonged period before burial is a result of the infighting in Zanu PF currently. The relatives have no problem in him being buried anywhere but it is the party itself that is causing the delay as some feel he deserves national hero status while others say he should be provincial,” said the family member.

“He contributed immensely to this country and was conferred with medals of the Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit and that of Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit by President (Robert) Mugabe.”

Sources said the family was left in the dark as various factions in the party were lobbying for and against conferment of the hero status, thereby leaving a heavy burden on the family on how things would progress within a reasonable time.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo and Minister of State for War Veterans Christopher Mutsvangwa could not be reached for comment yesterday.