Harare, 2019 (New Ziana) – The late former President, Robert Mugabe has been declared a national hero, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Friday.
Mugabe, 95, died early Friday in Singapore where he was receiving medical treatment.
He ruled Zimbabwe from independence in 1980 until his resignation in 2017.
Without specifying the number of days, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will be in mourning until the country’s late iconic leader is buried.
“Zanu PF, the party which the late departed helped found, has met and accorded him national hero status which he earned and richly deserves,” he said
“As we await the arrival of the remains of our dear departed icon, we pray that the good Lord grant him mercies putting his dear soul to eternal rest. We as Zimbabweans declared days of mourning for our leader until he is buried.”
President Mnangagwa lauded the late leader for having championed the country’s independence from colonial rule, pledging to carry on Mugabe’s vision for a prosperous and empowered Zimbabwe.
“We remain determined to carry forward the transformation he so fervently desired including protecting and defending the gains of the struggle for which he made huge sacrifices,” the Zimbabwean Head of State said.
“On the backdrop and solid foundation of the First Republic which he moulded as its leader, we today recover and grow our economy brick by brick until his lifelong vision of an empowered people is realised.”
Mugabe’s achievements in independent Zimbabwe, especially the championing of the land reform programme, which resulted in him creating enemies in the west and being slapped with sanctions, engraved his name in the annuls of history, President Mnangagwa said.
“With characteristic defiance, he stood firm and undaunted resolutely pressing on with the land reform programme to completion, all against formidable odds which included punitive sanctions and other reprisals that followed and which still dog us to this day,” he said.
“Today, Zimbabwe’s land question itself a principal grievance of our struggle, stands fully and irrevocably addressed and resolved. History will remember him for this bold move.”
Mugabe’s demise has hogged global attention, with condolences coming in from across the globe and the country’s political divide, with leaders lauding the late founding father for the critical role he played in bringing about the independence of Zimbabwe.
Kenya has declared three days of mourning in his honour as an African icon and champion of Pan-Africanism.
Mugabe leaves behind a wife Grace and three children, Bona, Robert Jn and Chatunga.
New Ziana
