Ex-Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe’s Burial Date Announced
Former Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe’s funeral date has been announced.
Mugabe died in the early hours of last Friday at the age of 95 in Singapore where he had been receiving medical treatment since April.
Recall that Mugabe, the longest-serving president of Zimbabwe, was forced to resign in 2017, following a protracted intraparty crisis.
He was succeeded by his estranged deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a government statement, on Monday announced that Mugabe’s funeral will take place on Sunday, September 15.
According to the memo to diplomats accredited to Harare, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a funeral service for Mugabe will be held on Saturday in the National Sports Stadium, before his burial on Sunday.
The ministry did not indicate where Mugabe, who has since been declared a national hero, will be buried.
According to the country’s tradition, national heroes and heroines are buried at the National Heroes Acre, a hilltop in the capital Harare; although families may opt for another burial place.
In the memo, the ministry said Heads of State and Government wishing to attend the state funeral service on Saturday should arrive in Harare on Friday.
“Heads of State/Government are expected to depart immediately after the ceremony, taking into consideration that Government authorities will be fully occupied with preparations for the burial service/ceremony reserved for Sept. 15.
“The full programme for the funeral service will be made available in due course.’’
The government has said it will send a high-powered delegation led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi to Singapore on Monday to help with the repatriation of Mugabe’s body.
His body is expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday.