Mugabe’s family met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday afternoon to discuss funeral arrangements. The family of Robert Mugabe said the former Zimbabwean President would not be buried on Sunday and as a family, they want a private funeral. Mugabe’s family met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday afternoon to discuss funeral arrangements. Mugabe died in a Singapore hospital on Friday last week. His body is currently lying in state at a local stadium in Harare, where members of the public are paying their last respects.
Here he arrives in Zimbabwe – in style – in a white jet
Remains of Mugabe arrive in Harare
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Earlier on Thursday, Mugabe’s family released a statement accusing government of trying to coerce them to agree to a programme for the funeral service and burial, which contradict the late statesman’s wishes.
Now, following a meeting with Mnangagwa, the family’s spokesperson Leo Mugabe said they wanted a private funeral for him.
“We don’t want the public to come, we don’t want you to know where he’s’ going to be buried.”
He also said government was wrong to announce Mugabe would be buried on Sunday, saying that wouldn’t be the case.
“The government cannot announce on behalf of the family, I announce on behalf of the family and no we’re not witnessing the burial on Sunday.”
This announcement by the family comes as Mugabe’s body lies in state at Rufaru Stadium in Harare, where members of the public are paying tribute to him.”
https://ewn.co.za/2019/09/12/mugabe-s-family-wants-private-funeral
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The body of Zimbabwe’s ex-president, Robert Mugabe, arrives at his former private residence, the ‘Blue Roof’. Around two thousand supporters, family members and government officials were on the tarmac at Harare airport to welcome Mugabe’s remains as they arrived by charter flight from Singapore
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Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s body is lying in state. Zimbabweans have started viewing the body to pay their last respects to the former President. 11 Presidents and 5 former Presidents will attend the funeral. For the latest on the ground in Zimbabwe, we are joined on the line by our reporter Chriselda Lewis.
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Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s body is lying in state. Zimbabweans have started viewing the body to pay their last respects to the former President.
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The Zimbabwean government and the Mugabe family are at loggerheads. They cannot agree where and when former president Robert Mugabe will be buried
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12 September 2019
Following his ouster, Mugabe, whose health deteriorated after the coup, had never hidden his displeasure at Mnangagwa and the military. Ahead of general elections last year, he publicly endorsed the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of Nelson Chamisa, declaring he would not vote for his “tormentors.” “I must say very clearly, I can’t vote for those who have tormented me,” Mugabe said at a press briefing days before the July 30, 2018 poll.
The fallout between the now-deceased longtime leader Robert Mugabe and his protégé Emmerson Mnangagwa could spill into the funeral amid reports that Mugabe’s family was opposed to the presence of Mnangagwa at his funeral. Mugabe and the current President fell out ahead of the former’s overthrow by the military, which later installed Mnangagwa as the head of state.
But on Wednesday, Mnangagwa welcomed Mugabe’s body from Singapore, which came with his deputy, Kembo Mohadi. The veteran leader had days prior to that sacked Mnangagwa as his co-deputy over allegations of seeking to overthrow him from office. Mnangagwa’s sacking followed a jostle for power with the then-First Lady, Grace Mugabe, who had the backing of a faction of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) known as the G40 (commonly known as ‘Generation 40’).
Mugabe, who died aged 95 in Singapore last week, would later be fired as head of the Zanu-PF alongside his divisive wife for allegedly inciting
division.
Weeks before his death, a local publication claimed Mugabe had informed his relatives he did not want to be buried at the National Heroes Acre
outside Harare.
This week, the MDC-Alliance led by Chamisa said Zanu-PF could not “claim” Mugabe. “He had endorsed the MDC and particularly my candidature as a viable alternative,” Chamisa said.
Mnangagwa was at the Robert Mugabe International Airport in the capital Harare on Wednesday when the corpse arrived from Singapore. The burial place still remained a mystery amid differences between the Mugabe family and government.
Some in the family want his wish to be buried at his home area of Kutama village in Zvimba, Mashonaland West province, 80 kilometres outside
Harare. Mugabe will be buried on Sunday.
Mnangagwa did not confirm the burial while addressing Zimbabweans at the airport. He announced the Ministry of Home Affairs would confirm the burial program after the body of the deceased would pass through the One Commando military base and his Harare home. Mnangagwa appealed for peace, love and unity.
FIVE THINGS MUGABE GOT RIGHT
1. He promoted racial reconciliation
2. Zimbabwe’s high literacy rate in the continent is credited to Mugabe
3. Ensured a viable basic health system
4. He was influential in the formation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc
5. Mugabe played a leading role in the Frontline States’ opposition to apartheid to liberate South Africa and Namibia.
FIVE THINGS MUGABE GOT WRONG
1. Dismantling the opposition Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) after atrocities south of the country, which left an estimated 20 000 people dead
2. A series of alleged electoral fraud
3. Human right violations
4. Disorderly land reform exercise
5. Corruption, unemployment a spectacular economic meltdown
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Numerous people have reportedly been injured in a stampede at the viewing event for founding Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, as those in attendance jostled in an attempt to see the late leader’s body, SADC News has reported.
This reportedly led to police having to barricade the area and to an increased security presence at the venue. Medical workers were reportedly brought in to treat the wounded.
Prior to this, it was reported that Mugabe’s body had arrived at Rufaro Stadium in Harare where the ceremony is taking place on Thursday afternoon.
Earlier, the body was taken to Mugabe’s Harare villa, known as the Blue Roof for its blue pagoda-style structure, where family and supporters gathered to mourn.
His body has since been laid out for the public at the stadium and will later be transported to his homestead Zvimba for a wake.
Thousands are in attendance to pay tribute to the former leader.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Mugabe a national hero after his death, indicating he should be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre monument.
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