South Africa opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander in Chief Julius Malema has laid into the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration for tormenting the late former President Robert Mugabe during his last days saying the only way they can protect his legacy is by respecting his last wishes.
The firebrand politician was in the country yesterday to pay condolences to the Mugabe family following the death of President Mugabe on the 6th of September at a Singaporean hospital.
Addressing the media after meeting the Mugabe family at their Blue Roof residence in Harare, Malema said the legacy of the former ruler should be protected against opportunists and ‘arrivalists’ whom he said were trying to hide behind granting the nonagenarian a national hero status.
“I came to send my condolences and I did that on behalf of the people of South Africa on the people of EFF and to thank Mrs Mugabe for taking care of President Mugabe until the last minute we were here to tell her in person that we are very proud of her and she serves as an inspiration to a lot of us and that she must protect President Mugabe’s legacy with everything against any form of opportunism which will want to hide behind the legacy of Pres Mugabe even if they tormented him to the last day,” said Malema.
He torn into Mnangagwa for denying Mugabe his benefits including medical care adding that authorities should not undermine his last wishes.
Malema was full of praises for the former first lady Grace Mugabe for taking care of the former President until he breathed his last on 6 September.
“She (Grace Mugabe) serves as an inspiration to a lot of us and that she must protect President Mugabe’s legacy with everything against any form of opportunism which will want to hide behind the legacy of President Mugabe even if they tormented him to the last day and we were giving her our support that we really support her and the family and we respect the last wishes of President Mugabe and that in our African tradition the words of the deceased cannot be undermined by anyone it doesn’t matter how powerful you think you are,” added Malema.
He said that the late Mugabe’s last wishes should be respected as part of protecting his legacy adding that declaring him a national hero cannot take away the right of the family over his body.
Malema was accompanied by his spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and other senior EFF leaders.
