Officials and family members are arguing over the arrangements for the burial of Robert Mugabe, the former Zimbabwean president who died in Singapore last week aged 95.
High-ranking members of the ruling Zanu-PF party are understood to have told Mugabe’s close family that his remains should be interred at a hilltop monument outside Harare, the capital, following a ceremony at the nearby national stadium, where dozens of prominent African leaders would be present.
However friends and allies of Mugabe’s second wife, Grace, have said that the late dictator made it clear he would prefer to be buried at his home town of Zvimba, about 60 miles from Harare, with only close relatives in attendance.
They said that Mugabe, who was ousted in a military takeover in November 2017, did not want his death exploited for political gain by his successors.
Mugabe’s remains have yet to be repatriated from Singapore, where he died in a private clinic. Many of his close family members are there, including his widow, along with a team of senior officials.
“Comrade Mugabe will be buried at the Heroes Acre,” deputy information minister Energy Mutodi said. “That is where he deserves to rest.”
Leo Mugabe, a nephew of Robert Mugabe and a family spokesman, told The Associated Press that the date of the funeral and other details, including when Mugabe’s body will arrive in Zimbabwe, weren’t yet available.
“Arrangements are not in place yet,” he said in a text message.
Located on a hilltop, and built with the help of North Korean architects, the plot has a commanding view of Harare, features a huge bronze statue of three guerrilla fighters and boasts black marble and granite flourishes.
Mugabe is viewed by many as a national hero despite decades of rule that left the country struggling. He was an ex-guerrilla chief who took power in 1980 when Zimbabwe shook off white minority rule and presided for decades while economic turmoil and human rights violations eroded its early promise.
Mugabe had been forced to relinquish power by a previously loyal military in November 2017.
Flags flew at half-staff Saturday, but there were no public activities to mark the death of a man who singularly shaped the once-prosperous country in his own image and created a repressive system that some say remains even today.
Reaction to his death was mixed, although praise ironically came mostly from ruling party officials and military leaders.
The state-run Herald newspaper, which vilified Mugabe when he was forced to resign and when he subsequently voiced support for the opposition, carried glowing tributes.
In a “commemorative edition,” the newspaper, which often acts as a mouthpiece of the government, carried a montage of his pictures with the headline: “Robert Mugabe-1924-2019″ on its front page and glowing reports throughout.
In an editorial page, the newspaper praised Mugabe for “his uncompromising stance when it came to the rights of Africans.”
“Whatever happened towards the end of his leadership should not be used to rubbish the good things that he did during his life,” the commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces and one of the commanders who led the military campaign to oust Mugabe after years of propping his rule, was quoted as saying in a separate story in the newspaper.
Others were less charitable. “95 and out,” read the privately-owned Newsday newspaper.
“Despite his intellectual prowess, Mugabe’s failure to let go of power when it was time was his major undoing . In short, he was a liberator who turned villain. Leaders need to know when to draw the line,” said the newspaper in an editorial.
“End of an era as Mugabe dies, leaves Zim poor, divided,” read the front page headline of another privately-owned newspaper, the Daily News.
“Notwithstanding the many mistakes that he made, many Zimbabweans will probably agree that had he not held on to power beyond the 1990s, he would today be largely remembered as one of Africa’s best leaders in history,” the paper said in an editorial.
Both newspapers were major targets of Mugabe’s vitriol, with editors and reporters routinely arrested during Mugabe’s rule.
On the streets of the capital, Harare, few seemed bothered as people struggled to cope with biting economic problems largely blamed by critics on Mugabe’s rule and perpetuated by his successor and an ally who later turned foe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa took power in 2017 with the help of the military.
“Who cares?” said Percy Maute, a street vendor pushing a cart full of tomatoes along a busy street named after the former president. “I don’t care. I am too busy looking for money to mourn a man who put me in this position.”
A small group of people drank beer and sang pro-Mugabe songs outside a liquor outlet and wore T-shirts with Mugabe’s face. Although only a few people cared to join or commiserate with them, they danced vigorously and spoke glowingly of a man they said fought for the liberation of not just Zimbabwe, but “the rest of Africa.”
“Bob was our hero, he taught us that the white man is not a master,” they sang. Mugabe was popularly known by the nickname Bob.
Info News
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Medicare Supplement Plans: How Medigap Helps Cover Out-of-Pocket Costs
Medicare Supplement plans, Medigap plans, Medicare Supplement insurance, Medigap coverage, Medicare Plan G, Medicare Plan N, Medicare supplement cost
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Medicare Supplement Plans: How Medigap Works
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Medicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap, helps pay certain out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare.
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For many people, Medigap is appealing because it can make health care costs more predictable.
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Medicare says Medigap is extra insurance sold by private companies to help pay your share of costs in Original Medicare, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
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Who Can Buy a Medigap Policy?
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Generally, you need Original Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy.
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Medigap works with Original Medicare. It is not the same as Medicare Advantage.
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This matters because you generally cannot use Medigap to pay Medicare Advantage plan costs.
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What Does Medigap Cover?
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Medigap policies may help with costs such as:
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Part A coinsurance
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rnPart A deductible
rnForeign travel emergency coverage, depending on plan
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Coverage depends on the specific plan letter.
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Medicare provides a comparison chart showing what different Medigap plan letters cover.
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Medigap Plan Letters
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Medigap plans are standardized by letter in most states.
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Common plan letters include:
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Plan A
rnPlan B
rnPlan D
rnPlan G
rnPlan K
rnPlan L
rnPlan M
rnPlan N
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The benefits for a plan letter are standardized, but prices can differ by insurance company.
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For example, Plan G benefits are generally the same standard benefits regardless of company, but premium pricing and service may vary.
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Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage
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This is a major decision.
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Medigap Works With Original Medicare
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You keep Original Medicare and add Medigap to help with out-of-pocket costs. You may also buy a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.
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Medicare Advantage Replaces How You Receive Medicare Benefits
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Medicare Advantage plans are private plans that provide Part A and Part B benefits as an alternative to Original Medicare.
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The choice affects doctor access, network rules, drug coverage, monthly premiums, and out-of-pocket costs.
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When Is the Best Time to Buy Medigap?
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Medicare says your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts 6 months and starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and are 65 or older. During this period, you have important rights when buying Medigap.
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If you apply later, medical underwriting may apply in many situations, depending on your state and circumstances.
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Medigap Pros
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Potential advantages include:
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Predictable out-of-pocket costs
rnWorks with Original Medicare
rnNo Medicare Advantage network rules
rnHelpful for frequent travelers
rnStandardized benefits
rnCan reduce surprise medical bills
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Medigap Cons
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Potential disadvantages include:
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Monthly premium
rnUsually requires separate Part D drug plan
rnDoes not usually include dental, vision, or hearing extras
rnPricing can increase over time
rnMay be harder to buy later depending on rules
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How to Compare Medigap Plans
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Compare:
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Plan letter benefits
rnMonthly premium
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rnCompany reputation
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rnAvailability in your state
rnWhether you need Part D separately
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Do not choose only by brand name. Since benefits are standardized by plan letter, price and service matter.
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Who May Like Medigap?
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Medigap may be a strong fit for people who:
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Want provider flexibility
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rnPrefer Original Medicare
rnWant predictable costs
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rnDo not want network restrictions
rnCan afford a monthly premium
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Final Thoughts
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Medicare Supplement plans can help reduce the financial gaps in Original Medicare.
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If you want flexibility, predictable cost-sharing, and fewer network concerns, Medigap may be worth comparing. But timing matters, and premiums vary.
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Before buying, compare plan letters, prices, Part D needs, and long-term affordability.
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