Coltart slams Moreblessing Ali burial violence per...

Coltart slams Moreblessing Ali burial violence perpetrators

Zim Now Writer

As people are still trying to come to terms with the chaos that characterised the burial of Moreblessing Ali at Zororo Memorial Park, near Chitugwiza on Saturday, senior Citizens Coalition for Change official, who is also Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart has taken a swipe at the perpetrators of the violence.

This comes as chaotic scenes characterised the burial of the opposition activist, Ali, who was murdered two years ago with her body being found in a disused well in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza.

Ali’s killer, Pias Mukandi Jamba is already in prison, serving his 30-year jail term for the crime.

In a post on X, Coltart, who refused to follow former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa in abandoning he party ship in January when he latter left, wrote: “I am sorry that Moreblessing Ali’s family had to endure this further pain. It is a time for deep introspection regarding the state of our politics in #Zimbabwe.

“Whoever is to blame for this disgusting behavior needs to be exposed. All politicians have an obligation to speak out against this behavior and to root it out from structures. Unscrupulous politicians must not be given any leeway,” Coltart wrote.

On their part, the Ali family released a statement condemning the violence that took place at their relative’s burial. Family representative Washington Ali, in a statement on X wondered why some people came dressed in party regalia.

“You cannot come to the funeral wearing party regalia and chanting slogans. Who sent those people? Who even invited them? There is a need for some investigation. I am really hurt by what happened on Saturday,”

“We, the members of the Ali family, express our profound disapproval of the violent incidents that unfolded during the burial of our dear family member, Moreblessing Ali, on March 2, 2024. Our original intent was to bid farewell to our relative with the utmost dignity and without the distressing scenes we unfortunately witnessed,” read part of the statement.

Suspected Chamisa followers, the bulk of whom were clad in blue, the movement the former CCC leader is believed to be fronting but currently being run by Gift Ostallos Siziba and Amos Chibaya with those from a rival faction of the CCC at the burial.

The Ali family have since formally filed a report with the police aimed at dealing with the disruptive culprits, arguing that there was no room for “politics and slogans” at the burial, which the family had planned to be a respectful and dignified send-off for Moreblessing.