President Mnangagwa yesterday hurriedly summoned a section of members of Mugabe family at his Munhumutapa Offices where he is reported to have tried to get the group to convince the greater part of the family to allow him to lead the burial of the late former head of state Robert Mugabe. Speaking at national hero Major-General Mugoba’s residence in Harare yesterday where he had gone to pay condolences, President Mnangagwa disclosed that he had met with the members of the family and chiefs ahead of the arrival of Mugabe’s body today in the afternoon.
"I am just coming from a meeting with traditional leaders from Zvimba,” he said.
“They wanted to express their gratitude with the support Government rendered to our founding President from the time he has been unwell to date.“The chiefs said they had received reports of all the good works that the Government provided to the former President and thanked us for that.“Tomorrow (today) we will be burying Maj-Gen Mugoba and soon after that we will go to the airport to welcome our founding President.”
Former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that President Mnangagwa bribed the Zvimba traditional leaders with ten thousand ($10 000) cash each and promises of cars in a bid to influence their decision over the burial of Mugabe.
Posting on Twitter on Tuesday, Moyo said:
It is believed that the meeting was meant to discuss where the former ZANU PF boss will be buried. The State wants him to be buried at the National Heroes Acre whilst Mugabe’s family members are reportedly keen to have him buried at his rural home in Zvimba.
One of the chiefs who attended the meeting, spoke to the Voice of America’s Studio Seven late Tuesday evening declaring that they had met and agreed to handover Mugabe’s burial to Mnangagwa and his government.
Speaking to ZimEye.com shortly after the VOA report, family spokesperson, Leo Mugabe outrightly dismissed the chief’s sentiments insisting that he family has not come up with a final programme nor date which Mugabe will be buried. Speaking to ZimEye Tuesday morning, Leo Mugabe said the burial of Robert Mugabe is no longer on Sunday as highlighted by the chief and government.
Responding to questions, Leo said the 95 year old will be buried any day after next Sunday.
Latest information also indicates that Emmerson Mnangagwa is banned from seeing his late boss’ body. On Tuesday morning it emerged, the 95 year old will get a secret burial.
The Mugabe family will secretly fly the former President’s body into Zimbabwe and drive him straight to Zvimba out of the public eye and the world only discover about it a month later, his nephew, Leo has revealed.
