The body of former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe is
expected to be taken to Rufaro Stadium today and tomorrow to afford citizens
from the country’s 10 provinces an opportunity to bid him farewell.
His body arrived home from Singapore yesterday afternoon. Provinces
will be allowed to bid Cde Mugabe farewell in clusters of five per day.
On Saturday, international guests would be afforded an
opportunity to bid farewell to the national hero at the National Sports
Stadium.
President Mnangagwa is expected to address mourners on
Saturday at the National Sports Stadium.
Burial of the former President is expected to take place on
Sunday at a venue to be agreed on by the State and the Mugabe family.
Finer details of former President Mugabe’s funeral would be
known by mid-morning after a meeting between President Mnangagwa and former
First Lady Grace Mugabe.
This was revealed by Deputy Chief Secretary to the
President and Cabinet Mr George Charamba, who is also the Presidential spokesperson,
last night in an exclusive interview with The Herald.
“The body of the former President (Cde Mugabe) will be
taken to Rufaro Stadium over a period of two days where provinces in clusters
of five per day, would be afforded an opportunity of bidding farewell to the
former leader,” said Mr Charamba.
“So that will be for Thursday and Friday, then of course
Saturday we have the day for international guests who will pay their last
respects to the dear departed.
“And this will be at the National Sports Stadium. This is
where there will be a major address by the President. On Sunday the body is
then taken for final interment at a venue that will be mutually agreed to
between the family and the State.”
Mr Charamba confirmed that Mrs Mugabe will meet President
Mnangagwa this morning to craft the final programme of the funeral.
“The widow of the former President will meet with His
Excellency the President tomorrow (today) morning where details of the entire
programme will be finalised,” he said.
“The meeting could not take place as was originally planned
for two basic reasons; we needed to give time to the former First Lady to
settle down, but more critically, there was a stream of Zimbabweans who were
going to the residence of the former President to condole with the former First
Lady so it was then decided that we defer the meeting to tomorrow.
“We expect that by mid-morning, there will be certainty to
the details of the actual programme.” Herald
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