By RFIPalled on 12-09-2019Modified on 12-09-2019 at 14:47
In Zimbabwe, the country is preparing a national funeral for its former president Robert Mugabe. After several days of negotiations, the decision seems to be taken: his body will rest in his family village of Kutama and not in Harare at the cemetery of the heroes of independence.
This is a real showdown between Robert Mugabe's family and the Zimbabwean government. The family wishes that the former president rests in his native village of Kutama , about thirty kilometers from the capital. And this, against the wish of the government that he wants the former president to be buried in Harare in a cemetery reserved for the heroes of the struggle for independence.
A decision made by the whole family
On Thursday morning, Léo Mugabe, the nephew of the late president, announced that he would be buried early next week , Monday or Tuesday, in private, in his village, and that this is a decision made by the whole family. Why is Robert Mugabe's place important? Because the Mugabe family has never forgave the current head of state, Emmerson Mnangagwa, for having deposed Robert Mugabe. And a burial in Kutama would be perceived as a defeat for the head of state, an affront on the part of the Mugabe family.
The closed debate?
There is also the risk that the Head of State is not invited to the funeral while he was relying on this national event to enhance his image. It is expected more than twenty heads of state or former heads of state of the continent. The debate is not entirely closed. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is currently in the Mugabe residence, in discussion with the family, most likely to get the latter to change his mind.
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