The Movement for Democratic Change formation of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has accused Information Minister, Webster Shamu of demeaning the prime minister by not acknowledging his presence at Wednesday’s independence anniversary celebrations in Harare.
Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said Shamu, who was the master of ceremony at the event marking the country’s 32 years of freedom, used the podium to attack the MDC over its disagreeing with ZANU-PF on the day's theme, based on indigenization.
Mwonzora acknowledged President Robert Mugabe’s conciliatory speech, but accused Shamu of turning the event into a ZANU-PF affair. Mr. Mugabe preached peace, saying violence should be "buried in the past."
Mwonzora told VOA reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that despite the information minister's efforts to politicize the event, his party will continue to participate in national gatherings. "This was very unfair and we made it known to Minister Shamu."
But ZANU-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo dismissed the MDC as a party of cry-babies.