THE family of the late national hero Ndabaningi Sithole has accused former Zanu Ndonga leader Wilson Khumbula of highjacking the nationalist’s legacy for political expediency.
Khumbula allegedly imposed himself as a relative of the Sitholes and has been negotiating with government on their behalf.
Recently, Khumbula was quoted in a State-controlled daily claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was fulfilling the family’s wish — declaring the late Sithole a national hero.
The former Chipinge legislator was recently appointed to the Zanu PF central committee.
“Wilson Khumbula is trying his level best to ride on the legacy of our father, the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole in order to derive some political benefit as seen by his recent appointment to the central committee of Zanu PF,” said Sifiso Sithole-Barrow, daughter of the late nationalist.
“For the record and truth, we the children of the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, have not had any association with Wilson Khumbula. Furthermore, Wilson Khumbula is not a member of our family and, therefore, we refute the statements he made about our family pertaining to seeking representation for the granting of hero status for the reverend at his death. The reverend’s wish about his final place of resting was that he be buried at the family farm popularly known as Freedom Farm in Mount Silinda, Chipinge. In respecting his last request, the family did just that,” she added.
“We urge Khumbula to do his political campaigning on the basis of his own sweat, but not to do it on the back of the legacy of Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, our father.”
Government is yet to consult Sithole’s family over the nationalist’s hero status.
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Mnangagwa recently posthumously conferred national hero status on Sithole nearly 22 years after he was buried at a low-key event at his family farm.
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