Former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe has been declared a “national hero” by his ruling Zanu-PF party.
This declaration is coming following the death of Mr. Mugabe whose last days were in conflict with a party he helped founded.
Mr Mugabe led Zimbabwe to independence and ruled until he resigned from power after a military coup in 2017.
His party removed him as leader during the military takeover forcing him to resign as President.
Mugabe was succeeded by current president and then deputy president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Zanu-PF, which the late departed helped found, has met and accorded him national hero status which he earned and richly deserves,” President Mnangagwa said.
“As we await the arrival of the remains of our dear departed icon, we pray that the good Lord grant him mercies, putting his dear soul to eternal rest.
“We as Zimbabweans declare days of mourning of our leader until he is buried,” he said.
Official national mourning is taking place in Zimbabwe but details are not yet clear as Mr. Mugabe’s body is yet to arrive back in the country.
Three days of mourning is however underway as Zimbabweans react to Mr. Mugabe’s death with mixed feelings.
His death
The former President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe died at the age of 95. He died after battling ill health for some months.
Since April this year the former leader has been in hospital in Singapore for treatment.
Mugabe died surrounded by family including his wife, Grace. He was born on 21 February 1924, in what was then Rhodesia.
Mugabe led Zimbabwe to independence in 1980 and ruled the country for decades.
Robert Mugabe first served as prime minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017.
He was imprisoned for over ten years without trial after criticized the government of Rhodesia in 1964.
Mugabe was chosen as president of the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu) while in prison in 1973.
He was a founding member of the Union which still rules Zimbabwe till date.
When he was released from prison he left for Mozambique and led guerrilla raids into Rhodesia.
Political agreements to end the crisis resulted in the new independent Republic of Zimbabwe, elections for which were first held in 1980.
Mr Mugabe secured an overwhelming victory in the 1980 elections and became the country’s first Prime Minister.
Robert Mugabe was a popular figure across Africa. He was passionate about Pan-Africanism and took inspiration from personalities like Kwame Nkrumah from Ghana.
His clashes often with the West which led to the imposition of some sanctions on his country during his tenure.
Source: Africafeeds.com
