HARARE – Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Nelson Chamisa on Thursday went to Robert Mugabe’s family home to pay his respects to the former leader’s widow and children.
Chamisa was accompanied by his two deputies Lynette Karenyi-Kore and Tendai Biti, and organising secretary Amos Chibaya, among other senior officials.
The MDC cancelled celebrations of its 20th anniversary scheduled for this weekend out of respect for Zimbabwe’s polarising founding leader, whose burial is scheduled for early next week, according to his family.
Chamisa said: “The reason why we are here is to do the African thing that is expected. You are aware that Mr Mugabe had a connection and relationship with us in the context of politics.
“On the other side, we had many differences but beyond the differences that we had politically to save our people, we have to reflect on his contribution. In line with our ubuntu, and what is expected of us from a leadership point of view, we have come to pay our condolences to the Mugabe family an of course to all Zimbabweans and the whole of Africa.”
Service chiefs arrived as Chamisa was still at the Mugabe home. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is said to have delayed his arrival until the MDC leader left.
Mugabe was ousted by the military in November 2017 and Mnangagwa, earlier sacked as vice president, seized power.
Mugabe, who for years bristled at the prospects of an MDC government and vowed the opposition party would never rule Zimbabwe, pledged his vote for Chamisa in elections in July last year.
“The two women (Joice Mujuru and Thokozani Khupe) don’t seem to offer very much. So, what is there? I think it’s just Chamisa,” Mugabe said at a July 29 news conference held at his sprawling residence in Harare.
He added: “I must say very clearly, I cannot vote for those who have tormented me. No. I can’t!”
Mugabe died bitter, according to his family, and directed that he should not be buried at the Heroes Acre where the people who ousted him would “pontificate over his dead body”, it was reported.
Family spokesman Leo Mugabe on Thursday said Mugabe would be buried sometime next week, although the burial site has not been decided.
The state programme would end on Saturday, he said, before the body is taken to Murombedzi Growth Point in Zvimba on Sunday where people from Mugabe’s village would pay their last respects.
The interment of his remains would be a private ceremony, he said.
“They (family) don’t want the public to come, they don’t want you to know where he is buried,” Mugabe’s nephew said.
He rejected repeated claims by President Mnangagwa that burial will be held on Sunday.
“It was never a burial date,” Leo Mugabe insisted. “The government can never announce on behalf of the family, I announce.”
Mugabe’s burial would not be televised, he insisted, rejecting requests by broadcasters.
“I would love the world to see his burial, but it’s not my decision. We have three days of body viewing including the state funeral service on Saturday, the world can see him,” he said.
Mugabe maintained that there was “no misunderstanding” with the government.
“The family is the one that makes the decisions and tells the government what it wants,” he added.
