Nelson Chamisa spoke at the graveside of late Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa in Ntabazinduna. He was given the opportunity to speak apparently after Dumiso Dabengwa’s widow, MaKhumalo, told the Master of Ceremonies that the programme could not conclude before Nelson Chamisa was allowed to speak.
Said Chamisa:
Baba Dabengwa, you instructed as a commander, we’ll execute your mission. We’ll finish what you started. We’ll complete the journey. You told us to bring everyone together, we’ll be united. We will not disappoint you.
We know that you were talking about the ZAPU properties. They will come back to ZAPU. You were talking about the files that disappeared, those files will come back. You were talking about devolution being our revolution, indeed it shall be our revolution.
You told us about Gukurahundi. We should not shy away from it. Let’s talk about it, apologise and make sure that we do what has to be done, to restore those who lost their lives and also those who lost property. How do we restore the lives lost? Just an apology, and frankness and truth of what happened is a way of honouring those who lost their lives.
Those are the words I have, I was not ready to say anything. I thought just coming here was my speech. I didn’t want to say words because tina sifuni kuhlonipa avadhala vethu.
This struggle is a struggle of all Zimbabweans. Baba Dabengwa we thank you. Mama Dabengwa we thank you. We thank the entire family. I also was to thnk my comrades who are not here present.
Is it not a sad indictment that you have President Cyril Ramaphosa sending somebody to represent, yet we have our vice presidents and our president not coming to honour this man. Is it not a sad thing.
I’m really heartbroken that they have decided not to give the honour that is required to this man. This man was a princpled man, and you know in our country fighting for principle can earn you ostracisation, marginalisation or being killed. But he remained with his principle. We salute you.