Siqokoqela Mphoko said that he did not attend the funeral of his late father, Phelekezela Report Mphoko, to fulfil his father’s wish.
Phelekezela Mphoko, who was Zimbabwe’s Vice President when former President Robert Mugabe was forced to resign by the military in November 2017, died on December 6 in India, where he had gone for medical treatment. He was 84.
Although he was declared a national hero by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and ZANU PF for his role as a prominent commander during the Liberation Struggle, Mphoko was buried at a family plot in Bulawayo.
Mphoko had told his family that he did not want to be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, which explains why President Mnangagwa did not attend the funeral.
However, the absence of Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela, raised questions.
In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200036311/mphokos-son-why-i-snubbed-my-dads-funeral">Southern Eye</a> on Sunday at his home, Siqokoqela revealed that he had been estranged from his father for the last two years of his life. Said Siqokoqela:
<blockquote>
I did not attend my father’s funeral as I was fulfilling his wish. He told me through messages and conversations that if any member of our family died, I should not set foot there.
He made his choices, and I made mine. This is why I didn’t attend the funeral.
</blockquote>
He said they had irreconcilable differences and a series of painful events led to their estrangement. The relationship between Siqokoqela and his father deteriorated after what he described as “false accusations” against him, including a rape case for which he was ultimately acquitted.
Siqokoqela had been accused of raping his 12-year-old niece on three occasions at his Hillside home. In October this year, the High Court overturned both the conviction and the 20-year sentence.
Siqokoqela believes the accusations were part of a larger scheme to alienate him from his family and damage his reputation.
He also recounted how he learned of his father’s passing from a ZANU PF member, who called him shortly after the news broke. Said Siqokoqela:
<blockquote>
I wasn’t even aware that he was in India or that he was sick. Nobody from his side communicated with me.
When I got the call, I was confused and had to process the news quietly.
I wasn’t surprised, though. This was the path we had taken as a family.
</blockquote>
Siqokoqela acknowledged that it was unfortunate the relationship could not be mended before his father passed away.
However, he felt there was no reason to attempt reconciliation after his death. He said he remains focused on rebuilding his reputation and providing for his family.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Siqokoqela Mphoko didn't go to his dad's funeral because his dad said not to. His dad, Phelekezela Mphoko, didn't want to be buried in a special place, so President Mnangagwa didn't attend. Siqokoqela was estranged from his dad and had problems with him. They didn't talk for two years before his dad died. Siqokoqela's dad accused him of bad things but he was found innocent. Siqokoqela found out about his dad's death from someone else and was sad they didn't fix things before. But he is focused on making his life better now.

Siqokoqela Reveals Reason For Absence At Phelekezela Mphoko's Funeral

The late Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela, did not attend his father’s burial at their Douglasdale plot in Bulawayo on Sunday.
According to The NewsHawks, Siqokoqela’s absence has been linked to a series of controversies, including a family feud over his parentage, business disputes, and a major fallout which led to his arrest last year on allegations of raping his niece, charges on which he was later acquitted.
Siqokoqela has publicly stated that his father and his family—wife Laurinda and two sisters, Sikhumbuzo and Siduduzo—were behind the false charges and his arrest.
In 2018, Siqokoqela and his wife Nomagugu were also arrested for allegedly ordering 15 Choppies Supermarket managers in Bulawayo to unlawfully dispense over US$30,000 cash from their point of sale machines after threatening them with either deportation or dismissal. These charges were also dropped.
Due to these and other contentious issues, Mphoko and his son had irreconcilable differences, leading to a breakdown in their relationship.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Phelekezela Mphoko's son, Siqokoqela, didn't go to his father's burial because of many problems. Siqokoqela believes his family lied about him and got him arrested. Last year, he was accused of raping his niece and stealing money from a store. These charges were dropped. Siqokoqela and his father didn't get along because of these problems. Their relationship broke down because of all the issues.

Siqokoqela Mphoko Snubs His Father Phelekezela's Burial

Former Zimbabwean Vice President Phelekezela Report Mphoko was buried at his Douglasdale home plot in Bulawayo on Sunday, reported The NewsHawks.
Mphoko, a former senior ZIPRA commander during the Liberation Struggle, died on December 6, 2024, in India, where he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Mphoko’s casket, draped in the national flag, was displayed as family, friends, relatives, and dignitaries gathered to pay their last respects.
Among the notable officials were Judith Ncube, Minister of State for Bulawayo Province; Richard Moyo, Minister of State for Matabeleland North Province; and Sithembiso Nyoni, Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, among others.
Although Mphoko was declared a national hero by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and ZANU PF and was supposed to be buried at Heroes Acre in Harare, his family said he expressed a wish to be buried at his home.
Recently, another late former ZIPRA commander, Tshinga Dube, had a similar wish, although the government overrode it and buried him at Heroes Acre in Harare. Dube had wanted to be buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.
Similarly, the late former ZIPRA intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa was buried at his rural home area of EManxeleni in Ntabazinduna, outside Bulawayo.
Dabengwa had told his family that he did not want any government officials at his funeral, and thus Mnangagwa and others did not attend.
Several other former nationalists, including ex-ZAPU stalwart Cephas Msipa, also chose not to be buried at Heroes Acre.
Former ZAPU political heavyweight Welshman Mabhena, before he died, openly said he did not want to be buried next to “corrupt people”, “thieves” and “murderers” at Heroes Acre.
Even the late former president Robert Mugabe, who was ousted in a coup in November 2017, is buried at his rural Zvimba home in Mashonaland West province, as he had instructed his family that he didn’t want to be buried at Heroes Acre.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Former Vice President Mphoko was buried in Bulawayo at his home. He was a hero from the Liberation Struggle. Although the government wanted to bury him at Heroes Acre, his family honored his wish. Other heroes like Dube and Dabengwa also wanted to be buried at their homes. Different leaders have chosen not to be buried at Heroes Acre. Even Mugabe is buried at his home, not there. Family and government have different ideas about where heroes should be buried.

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