Reactions To News That Morgan Tsvangirai Was Denied National Hero Status

On Thursday President Emmerson Mnangagwa said that former Prime Minister and former leader of the opposition MDC-T, Morgan Tsvangirai, will receive a state-assisted funeral. He also said that Tsvangirai was not going to be declared a national hero. The news produced mixed reactions among the people of Zimbabwe. Here is how some of the people felt about it.

“He is not being buried at the Heroes’ Acre. But they can’t take away his status as a hero. You don’t give a man the status of a hero. All you can do is recognise it. It is his” – Joshua Nkomo at Lookout Masuku funeral 12 April 1986

— Chayo (@ras_malone) February 15, 2018

MORGAN TSVANGIRAI can not be compared to Hunzvi, Border Gezi, Manyika and many other criminals at that bewitched Heroes Acre, so comrade ED and your ZANU PF cabal please keep your 'Heroes Acre" and we keep our Morgan. Fraudsters, murderers and gukurahundists lie there.

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— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) February 16, 2018

I believe Zimbabwe National Heroes Acre is a Zanu Pf property where Zanu PF Elite members are buried, President ED you clearly showed that you are far from being a Leader and whatever you're saying heee heee new political dispensation is a fallacy.

— BrilliantBlack (@marvemapie) February 15, 2018

Why is that even a question.
The National Heroes Acre has always been a ZANU PF burial hill.
Why would anyone want Tsvangirai who was against everything zanu stood for to be buried amongst those evil men and women? https://t.co/Ln7eHYVyw3

— Wezhira Museyamwa (@albertmarira) February 15, 2018

Dear people, being declared a national hero does not mean your remains have to be interred at Heroes Acre. You can be buried anywhere. Tsvangirai deserves a state funeral with full military honors (21 gun salute) ku Buhera.

— Tapiwa Munjoma (@TapiwaMunjoma) February 16, 2018

At Kumbirai Kangai's funeral at the National Heroes' Acre in 2013, President Mugabe publicly responded to MDC questioning the process of deciding who get to be a national hero. He made it clear that only members of Zanu-PF gets to be heroes.

— Chido Muchemwa (@ChidoMuchemwa) February 16, 2018

So its not National Heroes Acre but Zanu pf Heroes Acre

— teekay (@kwetedza) February 15, 2018

It must b renamed ZANUPF Heroes Acre and we must sue ZANUPF for public funds

— Sekuru Kwanayi Chinowawa (@mutoko_ken) February 15, 2018

https://twitter.com/rudolphm/status/964311565821468672

It’s ok, we can reserve the heroes acre for thieves. https://t.co/1YHX67cPX0

— Chokwadi_C (@Chokwadi_C) February 16, 2018

Honour Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai as a National Hero. He was the inventor of democracy in Zimbabwe. No matter how polluted the national heroes acre is, lay him to rest there to cleanse it

— 💝🌷🌹Trev (@TrevTrev2096) February 16, 2018

Heroes acre or not, Tsvangirai will forever be remembered as a hero. He deserves to be called national hero more than half the thieves and murderers buried at that so-called national heroes acre.

— Mafirakureva (@tmmutemererwa) February 16, 2018

When we rewrite history, he will be moved to the National Heroes acre where he deserves to rest.

— Tee (@Village_boy7) February 16, 2018

President Tsvangirai represented the Zimbabwean people. The National heroes acre represents murderers, thieves and oppressors. Glad he won't be laid there to sleep #RIPTsvangirai

— FutureMamaNahla🇿🇼 (@munashe_sharon) February 16, 2018

Despite the eulogies, @ZANUPF_Official has not forgiven @mrtsvangirai for the political torment he put them through since 1999. Therefore, he would never have been given a burial at the Heroes Acre. Ndabaningi Sithole and others were reviled even in death and denied the honor.

— Dumisani Ndlela (@dndlela) February 15, 2018

Being declared a national hero isn’t only about being buried at the heroes acre. You be declared a hero and buried anywhere.

— DashMafela (@Platinum_Dash) February 16, 2018

The way zanupf has a monopoly on national hero status charasa kunzwa kuti ndivo vane matitle deeds epa NATIONAL heroes acre

— #homecoming (@tatendadarling) February 16, 2018

https://twitter.com/LobengulaTm/status/964385533882335233

Heroes Acre is a national monument, it does not belong to ZANU PF or any other party. Doesn’t matter which party a person belonged to, if they fought for the country & are declared a hero; Heroes Acre is befitting.

— Proudly African (@Madawu17) February 16, 2018