Mugabe’s transformation from national hero to despotic tyrant was underlined yesterday as his funeral was conducted in a venue less than half full at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
Source: Crowds shun Robert Mugabe’s funeral in a stadium less than half full | Daily Mail Online
- Rows of the 60,000-capacity National Sports Stadium in Harare lay empty
- More than a dozen African leaders, past and present, flew in for the occasion
- Mugabe died on September 6 in Singapore at the age of 95, two years after being ousted from power
It was meant to be a resounding send-off for Zimbabwe’s founding father, the freedom fighter who liberated the southern African nation from white-minority rule.
But Robert Mugabe’s transformation from national hero to despotic tyrant was underlined yesterday as his funeral was conducted in a venue less than half full.
Row upon row of the 60,000-capacity National Sports Stadium in the capital Harare lay empty.
Mugabe died on September 6 in Singapore at the age of 95, two years after being ousted from power.
Row upon row of the 60,000-capacity National Sports Stadium in the capital Harare lay empty
Robert Mugabe’s transformation from national hero to despotic tyrant was underlined yesterday as his funeral was conducted in a venue less than half full
Mourners attend the state funeral of former president Robert Mugabe at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe. Rows of seats were left empty in the huge venue
Members of the military sit in the stands as Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seen on a video screen above, during the state funeral
Members of the public were invited to sit in the stands during the ceremony, but many spaces were not taken
The former dictator’s widow, known as Gucci Grace for her lavish spending habits, wanted her husband to be buried in his home town in a snub to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the once-trusted adviser who ousted him.
But the new leader, dubbed ‘the Crocodile’ after making his sudden and brazen power grab, wanted Mugabe to be interred at the national Heroes’ Acre monument.
The two sides eventually agreed to build a mausoleum at the monument which means Mugabe’s burial will be delayed for around 30 days as it has yet to be constructed.
The body of Zimbabwe’s founder and longtime ruler Robert Mugabe is brought to the national sports stadium for the state funeral in Harare, Zimbabwe
Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwe’s late former president, Robert Mugabe, is seen during the funeral ceremony at the National Sport Stadium
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa attended the official farewell ceremony for the former president
Grace Mugabe (centre), the widow of former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, is escorted by her son Bellermine Chatunga Mugabe (left) as she arrives to attend the official farewell ceremony for her late husband
During the service, President Mnangagwa, who overthrew Mugabe in a military-backed coup, paid tribute to him as ‘our revolutionary icon, statesman, leader, wartime commander and former president.
‘We shall continue to hear his rich, brave, defiant and inspiring voice,’ he said. ‘A giant tree of Africa has fallen. Today, Africa weeps.’
More than a dozen African leaders, past and present, flew in for the occasion. Among them was Teodoro Mbasogo, the president of Equatorial Guinea, who praised Mugabe as ‘a true icon in the liberation of the continent from colonialism’.
Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta described Mugabe as ‘an intellectual giant, a visionary leader and a relentless champion of African dignity’.
But Mugabe’s nephew Walter Chidhakwa struck a more sombre note recalling his last days. ‘He was a sad, sad man,’ he told the crowd. ‘It was a hard and excruciating journey.’
The ceremony did not draw attention to Mugabe’s pitiless persecution of political rivals, his policy of confiscating land from white farmers, or his wider mishandling of the economy which led to skyrocketing inflation that left millions in poverty during the latter half of his 37-year reign.
A 21-gun salute and a six-plane flypast concluded his funeral.
COMMENTS
The povo are very unpatriotic not to turn up for the funeral. Most are too poor to be able to afford the bus fare to the grounds of the funeral. Was not able to spot Putin, Xi or Obama who were all supposed to be there comrades
Yes people, TV cameras don’t lie.
It was all a very expensive and embarrassing flop. So, for sure people, Mugabe, (Our fallen giant tree of Africa!) his flunkies, and his crazy wife, will never be forgiven. And no one in Africa will weep. Except of course them, as they see their very generous Pay Day being swallowed by mother earth.
They were all just a never ending and frightful nightmare for the people of Zimbabwe.
I also saw on the TV Lady Grace creeping towards His casket in her all black widow’s weeds. No doubt she is plotting for us to remember her as His loving and dutiful wife. But all I remember of her is when she gave that cruel extension cable thrashing to that pretty young South African girl.
And just for daring to socialise with her worthless and layabout sons.
Gone and hopefully forgotten, this is the only way forward for Zimbabwe. Next in line for the chop is Mnangagwa and zanupf, without these you have a chance of living the dream, which you richly deserve.
one down 2 to go ….
Where are all those people who used to fill the stadium beyond it’s capacity during Mugabe’s days. The dead man does not give T shirts. Why didn’t Zanu Pf force people to attend Mugabe funeral. Why didn’t they use Zupco to ferry people from UMP and Mash Central. Can’t wait to see how many people will be there for Mnangagwa funeral. Garai makapa vanhu Mari yetransport CDE otherwise it will be worse than Mugabe’s.