Zimbabweans pays final respect to former leader, Robert Mugabe

Thousands of Zimbabweans trooped out on Saturday to pay their final respects to former leader at state funeral held at national stadium in Harare.

Thousands of mourners sang the praises of Robert Mugabe at the official funeral ceremony for the Zimbabwe’s founding president.

A military brass band led family members, officials from the ruling Zanu-PF party and foreign dignitaries from across Africa on a short parade across the grass of the national stadium in front of the coffin, which was draped in the national flag.

Mugabe died earlier this month aged 95 in a clinic in Singapore.

Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years until he was forced to resign in the wake of a military coup in November 2017. 

His remains will be interred in a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre in the capital Harare in about 30 days, his nephew said on Friday, contradicting earlier comments that a burial would be held on Sunday.

Zimbabwe president, Mnangagwa walked behind the casket carrying Mugabe’s body as it was wheeled into the centre of Harare’s National Sports Stadium and placed on a podium decorated with flowers so that heads of state could say their farewells. Senior army generals and Mugabe’s wife and children followed, as a brass band played.