Mugabe burial to be announced Saturday – Family

Harare, (New Ziana) – The burial place for former President Robert Mugabe, who died last Friday in Singapore, will be announced at the weekend, a family spokesperson has said.

There has been uncertainty since his death as to where the former leader, who has been declared a national hero, will be buried.

This has been fueled by unconfirmed reports that former President Mugabe, in his last days, had elected to be buried at his rural home in Zvimba, and not at the Heroes Acre where ordinarily national heroes and heroines are interred.

Walter Chidhakwa, a spokesman for the family, told mourners at the former leader’s home in Harare on Thursday that final decision on where to bury President Mugabe will be made on Saturday.

He spoke after President Mnangagwa and the former First Lady, Grace had held a meeting on the issue.

“We agreed with the government programme that has been put in place
(for today up to Saturday). On Saturday, President Mugabe’s friends
and colleagues, Heads of State and Government will have an opportunity
to bid him farewell at the National Sports Stadium,” he said.

“After the National Sports Stadium, we will make further announcements
on the way forward concerning the burial.”

At least 11 sitting Heads of State and eight former Presidents in the
southern Africa region have confirmed they will attend the funeral.

Chidhakwa said ordinary Zimbabweans will have the opportunity to bid
farewell to the former President at Rufaro Stadium, in the high density suburb of Mbare later Thursday and Friday.

Earlier, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the family will make the
final decision on the burial place, in consultation with the
government.

“Government has not issued any definitive statement on the funeral
programme and burial of the former President because it was yet to
consult the family which has the final say on the matter,” he said.
New Ziana