Source: Mbeki lands in Zimbabwe ahead of Mugabe’s funeral | eNCA
Robert Mugabe’s family will bury him in private after his state funeral. Courtesy #DStv403
HARARE – Former president Thabo Mbeki has described the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe as an important player in the remaking of the African continent.
Mugabe died last week in Singapore at the age of 95.
He had ruled the southern African nation for 37 years until he was toppled in a military coup in 2017.
Mbeki landed in Zimbabwe on Friday afternoon ahead of Mugabe’s funeral over the weekend.
“Many people in the continent and elsewhere around the world are coming to say this final farewell to President Mugabe because that is the stature he enjoyed on the continent and globally,” Mbeki said.
“I say a final farewell to somebody who was a very important player in the remaking of the continent.”
Mbeki said he last saw Mugabe in 2017 when he discussed his potential retirement from office.
On Saturday, a large memorial service will be held for Mugabe at a stadium in Harare.
It’s set to be attended by African leaders and dignitaries from far and wide.
The Presidency has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa will also attend the funeral.
Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Minister of Police General Bheki Cele and Minister of State Security Ayanda Dlodlo.
“The President’s attendance signifies South Africa’s regard and gratitude for the role played by the late former President Mugabe in his capacity as leader of Zimbabwe’s pre-independence liberation movement and as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in support of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid,” the Presidency said in a statement.
COMMENTS
Don’t believe a word that these South African leaders say.
They all despise Mugabe’s for his disastrous handling of our Zimbabwe economy as its knock-on catastrophic effects never allowed their South African economy to reach the heights that it should have.
And in addition, the huge number of Zimbabweans seeking work in South Africa forced hordes of South Africa’s poorly motivated, poorly trained and poorly educated workers into their social benefits queues. Social benefits that increasingly South African’s poor performing economy could afford to pay.
And now that these rogue attention seeking nephews of Mugabe, especially Patrick Zhuwao, the dagga king, are making all sorts of crazy demands to delay the funeral the South Africans cannot be expected to hang around Harare for a month. This while their own country is burning and making enemies of every other country in the World, but especially in Africa.
It will for sure be a long, long time before Africa can repair the damage that Mugabe did with his crazy and greedy mind and ideas. Ideas spawned in a cruel and lonely childhood when abandoned by his galivanting Malawi born father. But on reflection perhaps his father knew more about young Robert’s character than most other people then did.
Thabo Mbeki – the former failed South African President will attend the funeral. His famous quote – there is no crisis in Zimbabwe.
He was known for keeping his head in the sand and not believing what caused HIV/AIDS and was also known to enjoy a bottle or two of Johnny Walker
Defender, Police and Security? Is there a message in Ramaphosa’s choice of ministers?