MagRush writer  | September 12, 2019 

The government of Zimbabwe received the body of one of its iconic founding fathers of independence, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, from Singapore yesterday. The death of Mugabe has polarised conversations around the world as pertains to his legacy along liberation lines at the beginning and economic paralysis at the end.

Marshalled by state security agencies, the lifeless body of the former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe arrived in Harare yesterday from Singapore where he died at Gleneagles Hospital.

Because of his contribution to Zimbabwe’ struggle to gain independence (in 1980) from the British rule, the government had planned to offer its iconic leader a state funeral at a national monument, Heroes Acre, purposefully reserved for the country’ liberation warriors.

In a new dramatic twist, the AFP reports that the Mugabe family has snubbed government arrangements citing lack of consultation.

“His body will lie in state at Kutama on Sunday… followed by a private burial – – either Monday or Tuesday – – no national Heroes Acre. That’s the decision of the whole family,” his nephew Leo Mugabe told AFP.

After days characterised by a high level of uncertainty, it seems clear now that the 95-year-old will receive a private send-off in his home village in Zvimba.

In 2018, Mugabe swore that he was not going to vote for the governing Zanu-PF after he was deposed from power in 2017, marking the end of a long and controversial 37 years presidency.

The (Zimbabwe) government had prepared all the funeral arrangements including the official funeral scheduled for Saturday at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Mugabe’s body was to lie in state on Thursday and Friday at Rufaro Stadium, Mbare, Harare.