Zimbabwe’s Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi, says the late Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) founding president was a sellout.
In a tweet, Mutodi said, “As we reflect on the life of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, we believe he was a sell-out who fought to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle. For inviting sanctions, we view him as really a sell-out & a coward who believed whites are a better race than blacks.”
Mutodi was not reachable as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. Zanu PF’s former lawmaker Malaki Nkomo noted that Mutodi’s comments are a reflection of his own thinking and not the general view of ruling party supporters.
“Every person is entitled to his opinion like what Mutodi is saying. What I know is that Zanu PF respects all Zimbabweans regardless of their party affiliation,” said Nkomo.
But Prince Dubeko Sibanda, a senior official of the opposition MDC and Member of Parliament for Binga North, had no kind words for Mutodi.
He said, “Some of us are always in touch with this guy and we all know that he needs help. He is daydreaming. He needs help before he completely loses his mind.”
Independent political observer, Sikhumbuzo Mlalazi, said Mutodi’s remarks are retrogressive.
“Such remarks are very retrogressive taking into account the kind of democracy Tsvangirai wanted in Zimbabwe. There is a lot that Tsvangirai did for Zimbabwe including hope during the government of national unity,” he said.
Tsvangirai, who formed the MDC together with several civil society groups in 1999, died of cancer of the colon in 2018.