Malicious and shameful – Biti slams Zanu PF for snubbing Geza’s funeral
Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) convenor Tendai Biti has criticised President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu PF for snubbing the funeral and burial of their former party member, Blessed Geza, in Sanyati on Monday, describing their absence as malicious and shameful.
Geza died from a heart ailment in South Africa on February 6, aged 73. He is survived by his wife and three children.
In recent years, Geza had become a vocal critic of Mnangagwa’s administration, launching a crusade against what he described as corruption and looting at the highest levels while ordinary citizens endured deepening poverty.
Through X and YouTube, he issued a series of briefings calling for Mnangagwa’s removal from office for failing to address corruption.
According to Biti, the values Geza stood for ultimately led to his isolation within the ruling party, where he was viewed as a rebel for speaking out.
“I think that the Zanu PF government may have shunned him and have shunned this funeral. They were so malicious that they did not even offer any food or any assistance. But the people here understand that oil and water don’t mix. He fought against corruption. He fought against looting. He fought against brigands. He may not have wanted personally to have those people here. So there is no regret at all from anyone who is here,” Biti said.
Biti added that this was not the first time ZANU PF had, in his view, cast aside one of its own, citing Ndabaningi Sithole, a founding member of the ruling party who was buried at his rural home in Chipinge.
“They did that to Ndabaningi Sithole, yet he was the founder of Zanu PF way back to 1963, so this is Zanu PF and its DNA. It’s true to form and there is nothing that is surprising,” he said.
As mourners gathered, emotions ran high. One war veteran, identified as Rutendo Muzihwa, questioned why Geza had not been accorded national hero status, arguing that such recognition should not be influenced by political disagreements.
“I don’t know whether these are gimmicks or what. When I read an article where Christopher Mutsvangwa was saying we expect Geza to be declared a national hero, then there arose some affiliate saying Geza cannot be conferred a hero status because he called out the President. But my hero status cannot be determined by what I say today. My hero status was already conferred by my fight in the war against the Ian Douglas Smith regime. It can’t be conferred by the born frees, like what has happened to Geza. This is not fair,” fumes Muzihwa.
“We fought for all Zimbabweans across the political divide. In the current Zanu PF, comrades are not enjoying the freedom of speech. So they move to other parties, but that should not be criminalised. I will not be surprised if, after today’s speech, I may be expelled from the party. I expect that,” she said. _*NewZimbabwe*_
