Mugabe's body to be taken to rural home for more farewell proceedings

It had earlier been planned that the body would be taken to Zvimba on Sunday to allow the people there to bid him farewell.

Relatives follow pallbearers carrying the casket as they leave the National Sports Stadium in Harare after attending a farewell ceremony on September 14, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

Family spokesperson Leo Mugabe told media at Mugabe's rural homestead that the program had changed and the body was now expected to leave Harare on Monday at 10 am.

"However, we were not informed of the reasons for the postponement. The body was supposed to be here today. As you can see, thousands of people have already gathered here to bid farewell to their own son.

"I am not sure what caused the postponement. I heard the former First Lady Grace Mugabe wanted to rest. Like any other human being she needs a rest," he said.

Mugabe said the body might go to Zvimba by road as requested by Norton residents and people from other surrounding areas.

"We will inform those leading the proceedings on the latest development. Our plan was to have his body come by road to enable people from Norton and other surrounding areas to pay last respects to their former President.

"Some might not get transport to ferry them to Zvimba, so we are organizing that the body passes through by road," he said.

Mugabe said after the rural proceedings, the body would be taken to a mortuary on Tuesday, where it would lie in state for about 30 days while a mausoleum was being built at the National Heroes Acre.