Deceased dictator: quarrel over dead body - family must Mugabe on Heroesacker buried

The dispute over the burial place of Robert Mugabe is over. The mortal remains of Zimbabwe's ex-dictator are to be buried at the National Cemetery of the Fallen, the so-called hero's field in Harare. The spokesman for the family and nephew of the long-term ruler, Leo Mugabe, said. When exactly the funeral should take place, however, remained unclear.

First, Mugabe's family had insisted that the head of the family should be buried in his hometown Kutama northwest of the capital. That's what the dictator wanted. However, the government of the new ruler Emerson Mnangagwa insisted on a funeral of the former head of state at the burial ground for national heroes.

Ben Curtis / AP

Leo Mugabe, spokesman for the family and nephew of the ex-ruler

The dispute had flared up shortly after the announcement of Mugabe's death a week ago and had overshadowed the previous funeral. Now head of state Mnangagwa, who overthrew his party friend Mugabe in 2017 by means of a military coup from the top government, has apparently prevailed.

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In his reign since 1980, Mugabe, who began as a liberator and bearer of hope, had nearly ruined the country through political terror, desperate financial and economic policies, and extreme corruption. Nevertheless, some older Zimbabweans in Mugabe still see as a freedom fighter against foreign rule.

Mugabe had died in Singapore last week, and on Wednesday his body was transferred to Zimbabwe. Since then, the funeral celebrations continue.

AP

Provides chaos, even after his death: Dangerous crowds at the wake for Mugabe in a sports stadium

The family and the head of the state took leave of a mourning party in the fashionable property of the Mugabe family, the Blue House in Harare.

Mugabe's coffin was then flown to a sports stadium where tens of thousands of Zimbabweans can say goodbye to their ex-leader for two days. There were tumults on the open coffin Mugabe on Thursday, in the crush of many onlookers were injured several people.

The public exhibition of the coffin is to be continued on Friday. On Saturday, international representatives will arrive for a state ceremony in Harare.