Harare,(New Ziana) – Kenya on Friday declared three days of national mourning in honour of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who died in Singapore aged 95.
Mugabe died on Friday in the Asian country where he was receiving medical treatment.
He ruled Zimbabwe from independence in 1980 until his resignation in 2017.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta made the declaration in a special Presidential proclamation.
“As a mark of respect for the memory of this African hero and friend of our country, by the authority vested in me as President of the Republic of Kenya, I hereby order and direct that the flag of the Republic of Kenya shall be flown at half-mast at the State House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Republic of Kenya and throughout the Republic of Kenya from dawn on Saturday the 7th September, 2019 until sunset, on Monday the 9th September, 2019,” he said.
Kenyatta said his country had lost a close friend and extended his condolences to former President Mugabe’s widow, Grace and the people of Zimbabwe.
“Comrade Mugabe was a shining beacon of Africa’ s liberation struggle, an icon that led Zimbabwe in its liberation struggle from colonialism to independence. He was also an embodiment of the Pan African spirit, offering immeasurable assistance to his neighbour South Africa, in their struggle to end apartheid, and in his steady insistence that Africa’s problems required African solutions.”
“He spent a lifetime challenging Africa to find its place and voice among the Community of Nations, and stand tall. For all these and many other achievements, he will be fondly missed and remembered,” he said.
Kenyatta said Kenya and Zimbabwe enjoyed strong relations founded on the shared struggle against colonialism, and quest for self-determination.
“Throughout his tenure as President, H. E. Mugabe maintained close relationships with Kenya, visiting Kenya on several occasions, the last such occasion was during TICAD VI in2016.
“It is this close relationship that has seen Kenya and Zimbabwe assist each other to build capacities in various fields and confer each other at different multilateral fora. We will remember him for nurturing a strong, and growing the relationship between Kenya and Zimbabwe.”
New Ziana
