FORMER President Robert Mugabe who died in Singapore on Friday will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Sunday, the Zim Morning Post can reveal.
This comes after a series of meetings were held between the Mugabe family and senior government officials since Friday.
“We held our final meeting yesterday (Sunday) at the Munhumutapa office where it was agreed the veteran leader will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre,” said the source.
“The meeting was chaired by chief of protocol Munyaradzi Kajese and some of the people who attended include Mugabe family spokesperson Leo Mugabe, Philip Chiyangwa, several chiefs and headmen from Zvimba.
“Former minister Michael Bimha represented the former first lady Grace Mugabe’s family, the Marufus,” said the source.
Mugabe’s final resting place has been subject to controversy with some members of his family saying the veteran leader has been ill-treated since his ouster in November 2017.
“Some family members said there was no need for the Zanu PF government to be involved because since he was booted out his family has been harassed.”
“Leo Mugabe actually raised the family’s concerns that the current regime had not given Mugabe the treatment he deserved as a former head of state,” the source said.
Insiders also said the family will only make an announcement after Grace and her children are notified by the delegation which President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dispatched to Singapore.
Mnangagwa has dispatched a delegation led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, comprising former President Robert Mugabe’s family, the family of the former First Lady — the Marufus — and Zanu-PF officials to facilitate the repatriation of Mugabe from Singapore.
Sources also said former Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono who was in Zvimba on Saturday told the Mugabe family that as a close ally of Mugabe he is aware of his wishes because he has always engaged him.
“Gono told the family that Mugabe has never said he did not want to be buried at the Heroes Acre because he could have written that down or inform one of his best friend (sahwira).
“Gono told the family that he has been in good books with the Mugabes even after the veteran leader was out of power.
“Gono said Mugabe was not happy by the way he was removed but he has always been principled on his values and those of Zanu PF,” said the source.
Zvimba chiefs have been engaged in marathon meetings since Friday up to date trying to determine Mugabe’s final resting place.
Mnangagwa on Friday declared Mugabe a national hero which automatically means that he is obliged to be buried at the National Heroes Acre.
Interestingly, Mugabe is on record for saying that the dead cannot decide where they are buried in reference to the late Edgar Tekere’s final resting place.
