President Mnangagwa yesterday received the body of former
President Robert Mugabe at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport from
Singapore where the former leader died on Friday last week.
The President led other dignitaries including his wife
Auxillia, Government officials, Zanu-PF officials and service chiefs in welcoming
the body that arrived in the afternoon.
From the airport, the body was taken to One Commando
Regiment where the State parlour is located, where President Mnangagwa led
mourners in a prayer.
In his speech after the arrival of the body, President
Mnangagwa said the former President was a revolutionary icon and Pan Africanist
who made Zimbabwe what it is today.
He said the work and ideology of Cde Mugabe will continue
to guide Zimbabwe as the nation adjusted to life without him.
“We have gathered here to welcome our founding father of
the nation, independent Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa. “Our revolutionary
commander during our armed liberation struggle, an icon of Pan Africanism, the
man that created our nation, the man that led us to this day has left us.
“We are gathered here to receive his body and we are
grieved and we say our sincere and deep condolences to the former First Lady
who has brought the body, Amai Grace Mugabe, children and immediate family
members, the entire nation of Zimbabwe, our people who are grieved and are in mourning
because the light which led us to independence is no more, but his works,
ideology will continue to guide this nation.”
President Mnangagwa appealed for peace and calm as the
nation mourned the national hero and prepares for his burial on Sunday.
“May I take this opportunity to say to the great people of
Zimbabwe, on the day we shall lay him to rest on Sunday, I appeal to you in
your hundreds, thousands and millions to show your love to our great leader who
has left us,” he said.
“Today as we leave here, our icon and commander will first
pass through One Commando where the military will say their prayer and the body
will proceed to the residence of our former President – the Blue Roof – today.
Thereafter the programme will be announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs and
Cultural Heritage.
“May I, therefore, appeal to you all to be peaceful and to
be loving, united, Zimbabwe is ours together. We are one people and one
nation.”
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport was a hive of
activity from early morning as people arrived to witness the arrival of Cde
Mugabe’s body, which touched down at 3:35PM aboard a chartered flight.
The body was accompanied by his widow, former First Lady
Grace Mugabe, Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who together with other senior
Government and Zanu-PF officials had flown to Singapore to help bring the body
to Harare.
The Presidential Guard Brigade mounted a military parade in
honour of the former president. Service chiefs led the body from the plane to
the podium.
Several Zanu-PF supporters could be seen ululating, waving
fists and punching the air, reminiscent of what Cde Mugabe used to do.
After a brief ceremony at the airport, the body was taken
to One Commando Regiment where another devotion was conducted.
Thereafter, the body was taken Cde Mugabe’s Blue Roof
residence in Borrowdale where it was expected to lie in State.
Hundreds of mourners including Cabinet Ministers, senior
Government officials, Zanu-PF supporters and various church members gathered at
the Blue Roof mansion to pay their condolences to the Mugabe family.
Cde Mugabe’s remains arrived at 18.40PM and were taken into
the house where long queues quickly formed as Zimbabweans from across the
political divide wanted to pay their last respects.
Roman Catholic priest, Father Kennedy Muguti who was with
Cde Mugabe in Singapore, narrated the late hero’s last days. He said although
Cde Mugabe was ill, he still looked up to God.
He said Cde Mugabe kept his faith up to the end and died
peacefully.
“I used to come to conduct mass here when the former
President was not feeling well. He was aware of the journey he was embarking on
and remained resolute. He kept his faith till the end,” he said.
After his testimony, mourners continued paying their condolences
with entertainment from the Roman Catholic and Simba Redenga choirs. Herald
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