Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwean government has given the family of the late former president Robert Mugabe a go ahead to bury him in Zvimba communal lands, Mashonaland West, instead of a so-called mausoleum being constructed at the National Heroes Acre.
Insider sources have passed an explanation on the secret Mugabe burial ceremony that took place last week Tuesday. A traditional burial ceremony was conducted in the wee hours of Tuesday morning at a hill cave on the outskirts of Zvimba.
The burial truly took place “but they buried some of Mugabe’s clothes and an animal hide (skin) according to the chiefs’ tradition,” a source told ZimEye.
The development comes against the backdrop of Mugabe nephew, Leo saying that there will be two different burials one of the real corpse and the other which is of “something else which is not the body,” as he stated.
Another paradox involving (two different coffins and) counterfeit corpses added to the confusion.
The Mugabe burial has caused a lot of confusion as the family demands that he be privately buried in his rural area, Zvimba.
The latest development has resulted in the government partially giving up to the demands. On Thursday afternoon the state issued a statement saying they were now handing over everything to the family’s wishes. But at the time of going to print (7pm) the family was still being blocked from carrying the coffin to Zvimba with police and military officers remaining stationed at Mugane’s Blue Roof residence into the night.
The weekend burial comes after very reliable Mugabe family sources early this week revealed to ZimEye.com that Mugabe was actually buried in Zvimba couple of days ago.
Details for the coming weekend burial coincide exactly with the details provided to ZimEye.com for last week’s burial. The sources even provided ZimEye.com with confidential video and picture evidence of where Mugabe was “buried” and is incidentally the same spot suggested for this weekend’s burial.
In a statement signed by Information Secretary, Nick Mangwana, the government said the family has a right to designate the burial place of the former Zimbabwean strongman, who died of cancer on September 6th in Singapore.
“The family of the later former President R. G. Mugabe has expressed its desire to proceed with his burial in Zvimba. In line with government policy to respect the wishes of families of deceased heroes, government is cooperating with the Mugabe family in their new position.
“Government will render all the necessary support to give the late former president a fitting burial as led by the family.