Slain MDC activist's body arrives in Zimbabwe

Slain MDC activist's body arrives in Zimbabwe

• Tsvangirai, Ncube to defuse SA tensions

• Man dead in MDC South Africa tribal clashes

• 42 MDC supporters arrested in clashes

• MDC rejects calls for Tsvangirai to resign

By Staff Reporter

THE body of MDC activist Lungile Moyo who was brutally hacked to death in intra-party fighting in South Africa was last night stranded on its trip to Lupane after a truck ferrying it broke down along the Bulawayo/Victoria Falls, New Zimbabwe.com has learnt.

It could not be ascertained whether the truck had a mechanical fault or simply ran out of fuel, a scarce commodity in Zimbabwe.

Moyo's body arrived in Zimbabwe late Wednesday night after the party repatriated it to Zimbabwe. The body left Bulawayo for Lupane with a group of party supporters accompanying it for burial at his rural home.

The deceased, who was in his early 20's, fled the country to South Africa after he was named a witness in the murder of Limukani Luphahla, a Zanu PF activist who died in 2002.

Moyo was killed after clashes between members of the MDC Zimbabwe Action Support Group (ZASG) and members of the mainstream MDC South Africa branch. Both factions are claiming Moyo. Two ZASG members were still missing following the violence.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the ZASG, Remember Moyo, has denied accusations from MDC members in South Africa that he played a role in Moyo's murder. Moyo, who was last year acquitted of kidnapping and murdering war veterans leader, Cain Nkala, told New Zimbabwe.com that there was unfounded speculation that he murdered Moyo. He blames the rumours on his political rivals.

"It seems there is now a fight between my organisation and the mainstream party since most of our members went into exile because we are wanted by the police back home for crimes we allegedly committed on behalf of the party," said Moyo. "People support us and when we call rallies they come in their dozens but when the mainstream party call for rallies they are ignored."

He accused the MDC South African branch of spreading tribal politics.

But the MDC Information Officer for the South Africa branch, Nqabutho Dube, told New Zimbabwe.com that the ZASG was the one causing problems for the party. He said since the formation of the group, the MDC in South Africa has been facing problems.

"They (ZASG) have been raiding our offices and terrorising members of the party," he claimed.

Dube said ZASG has been accusing the mainstream party of not being militant, even though, he said, they have been organising demonstrations and awareness marches.
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