Mugabe’s Body Arrives Zimbabwe, Burial Place Still A Mystery – TheNigerialawyer

HARARE (Reuters) – The body of Zimbabwe’s founder Robert Mugabe
arrived at the country’s main airport on Wednesday, but his final
resting place remained a source of mystery amid a dispute between
some family members and the government.

Mugabe, one of the last “Big Men” of African politics who ruled
the southern African nation for 37 years until he was ousted by his
own army in November 2017, died in a Singapore hospital five days
ago.

He is proving as polarising in death as he was in life, as the
fight over where he will be buried threatens to embarrass his
successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and deepen divisions in
the ruling ZANU-PF party.

The former president’s body arrived at Harare’s Robert Gabriel
Mugabe International Airport shortly after 1330 GMT. A military
guard of honour stood at attention as the casket was removed from
the aircraft, draped in the national flag and accompanied by
security chiefs.

“The entire nation of Zimbabwe, our people, across the board are
grieved and are in mourning because the light which led us to
independence is no more, but his works, his ideology will continue
to guide this nation,” Mnangagwa said.

“On the day we shall lay him to rest, on Sunday, I appeal to you
in your hundreds, in your thousands, in your millions to show your
love of our great leader who has left us,” he added.

Mugabe’s wife Grace, dressed in black with a black veil, was
next to Mnangagwa at the airport. Also present were Mugabe’s
daughter Bona and Savior Kasukuwere, a former Mugabe cabinet
minister and staunch ally who has been living in self-imposed exile
in South Africa since early this year.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the former general who led
the coup that overthrew Mugabe, was conspicuous by his absence at
the airport. He has been receiving treatment in China since July
for an unknown illness

Crowds had gathered at the airport well before the scheduled
arrival time, with some wearing T-shirts bearing Mugabe’s face and
others with Mnangagwa’s image, while music blared from
loudspeakers.

A convoy of 4×4 vehicles with number plates bearing the letters
“RG Mugabe” and the former leader’s signature were also on the
runway.

BLUE ROOF
Leo Mugabe, a nephew and family spokesman, declined to say where
Mugabe would be buried.

Mnangagwa said the body would be taken to Mugabe’s palatial home
in the capital, known as Blue Roof, after a detour to a military
barracks for prayers.

On Thursday, ordinary Zimbabweans and supporters are expected to
pay their last respects to Mugabe at a Harare soccer stadium, where
the body will lie in state before being taken to his rural home in
Kutama, 85 km (50 miles) from the capital, he added.

Mnangagwa and his party want Mugabe buried at a national
monument to heroes of the liberation war against the white minority
Rhodesian regime.

But some of Mugabe’s relatives have pushed back against that
plan. They share Mugabe’s bitterness at the way former allies
including Mnangagwa conspired to topple him and want him buried in
his home village.

Sunday’s burial will take place a day after a state funeral, but
officials said the burial site would only be known after
consultations with the family.

Mugabe left behind an economy wrecked by hyperinflation and
deeply entrenched corruption, and a raging political rivalry
between ZANU-PF and the opposition MDC.

The MDC said in a statement on Wednesday that it had postponed
its 20th anniversary rally because of Mugabe’s funeral. It said:
“Notwithstanding our legendary differences with Mr. Mugabe, we have
no reason to exhibit barbarity by hosting a national festivity
during his funeral.”

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