By RFIPalled on 13-09-2019Modified on 13-09-2019 at 00:59

The people of the capital Harare paid tribute to former President Robert Mugabe on Thursday 12 September. His remains were transported to the Rufaro stadium in the outskirts of Harare, where several thousand people were waiting in the stands. A symbolic stadium since it was there in April 1980, he took the reins of the former Rhodesia under white domination.

It was under the gaze of Grace Mugabe, seated in her chair, that thousands of Zimbabweans marched in front of the coffin of the former head of state . All are strong supporters of Zanu-PF, the ruling party. Most came from nearby poor neighborhoods. Some were transported by bus from rural areas, such as this farmer from Manicaland, in the east of the country.

" Robert Mugabe has done more than anyone so that we can have our total independence," he says. Economic independence, independence of the land ... Because this land is ours, Zimbabweans. Thanks to him, I received 250 hectares of land, today, I must come to pay homage to him . "

Beside him, an old woman wearing a loincloth in the colors of the Zanu-PF acquiesces. " He educated us, he built clinics, universities. He taught us to be self-sufficient, for example by distributing seeds to farmers. He told us to be united in order to develop our country. We Africans must unite to defend our country and our territory. "

► See also: Death of Robert Mugabe: For Zimbabwe, a catastrophic economic legacy

Many young people have not experienced the struggle for independence but denounce colonization. When we talk about the mistakes of the regime, the violence, the repression, they shrug their shoulders. " Mugabe is not responsible, they answer. It was those who wanted to derail the country, the opposition. "

► Also read: Robert Mugabe: from the hero of liberation to the lonesome despot

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