THE family of the late ZAPU leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa has welcomed Government’s decision to declare him a national hero but immediately declared that he will not be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

Dr Dabengwa died on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, while being flown back to Zimbabwe from India where he had gone for medical treatment.

He was 79.

Dr Dabengwa died following a liver related illness that started last year in November.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi on Sunday announced that Dr Dabengwa had been declared a national hero at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport where his body was expected to arrive aboard a South African Airways plane.

However, the body did not arrive due to some complications and is expected to arrive in the country today at 10AM at the same airport.

Scores of people yesterday converged at the airport to receive the body.

Some of the people who had gone to the airport proceeded to the Dabengwa residence in Fourwinds, Bulawayo where family spokesperson Mr Gibson Sibanda revealed that the body is expected today.

Mr Sibanda said the family was satisfied with the national hero status accorded to Dr Dabengwa.

“We welcome that he has been declared a national hero,” said Mr Sibanda.

He added that the family informed Vice President Kembo Mohadi of their desire to bury him at the family gravesite in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North.

Mr Sibanda said Vice President Mohadi revealed that Government respects their family position.

He appealed to members of the public to come in their numbers’ today and receive the body of the national hero at the airport. Transport is expected to be availed for those intending to go the airport.