City
Epaper

Mugabe's family shocked over funeral plans by govt

By IANS | Published: September 12, 2019 3:00 PM

Robert Mugabe's family on Friday said they were shocked at not having been consulted by the country's government about arrangements for the funeral of the late Zimbabwean President who died last week.

Open in App

The 95-year-old former leader died on September 6 at a hospital in Singapore where he was being treated for prolonged illness, the BBC reported.

In a statement, Mugabe's family said that his body will be displayed in his home village of Kutama on Sunday night, and will be buried at a private ceremony on September 16 or 17.

The government had wanted him to be interred at the National Heroes monument in Harare.

"We note with extreme concern the manner with which the government of Zimbabwe has developed the programme for the funeral of the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe without consulting his immediate family who were tasked with communicating his last wishes in regard to his funeral and burial," the family said in a statement.

"As his immediate family, we have also observed with shock that the government of Zimbabwe is attempting to coerce us to accept a programme for the funeral and burial of the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe which is contrary to his wishes on how he wished to have his mortal remains interred."

Mugabe was Zimbabwe's first leader after the country became independent in 1980. He held on to power for almost four decades before being ousted in a coup in 2017.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Robert Gabriel MugabeZimbabwebbcNational Heroes Monument
Open in App

Related Stories

CricketIn Pics: Former Zimbabwe Cricketer Guy Whittall Mauled by Leopard, Undergoes Emergency Surgery

CricketUganda qualify for T20 World Cup 2024, Zimbabwe knocked out

BusinessIndian billionaire Harpal Randhawa, son killed in Zimbabwe plane crash

InternationalTom Cruise 'working diligently' on his planned space movie

CricketCLOSE-IN: West Indies cricket - How the cookie crumbles (IANS column)

International Realted Stories

InternationalPM Modi extends festival wishes to Kuwait's Emir, country's other leaders on Eid al-Adha

InternationalJaishankar meets US National Security Advisor Sullivan in Delhi, discusses bilateral, global issues

InternationalBelgium: United Kashmir People's National Party demands release of PoJK activists arrested on "fake" terrorism charges

InternationalRawalpindi police registers case against several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders for protest outside Adiala jail

InternationalPakistan: Baloch protest on Eid to highlight enforced disappearances