There has been a stampede at the viewing of the body of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe at the Rufaro Stadium on Thursday.
SADC News reported of several people sustaining injuries during the stampede as scores line up to have a final viewing of Mugabe’s body.
Police have since tightened security at the pitch here Mugabe’s coffin has been placed for public viewing.
EyeWitness News reported that public earlier invaded the pitch where the coffin placed.
Mugabe’s body will lie in state at Kutama on Sunday night before a private burial in his private residence.
The government had earlier announced he could be buried at a national monument for liberation heroes but his family on Thursday rejected the proposal.
#RIPRobertMugabe pic.twitter.com/siZJnc5vqw
— SADC news (@NewsSadc) September 12, 2019
Family fights government
The family of Robert Mugabe had been fighting the government over ongoing arrangements for his funeral.
The Mugabe family has expressed shocked at not being involved in the preparations for the funeral of the former Zimbabwean president.
Several people injured as people stampede to see Mugabe’s body.#RIPRobertMugabe pic.twitter.com/uHsrYmGIOQ
— SADC news (@NewsSadc) September 12, 2019
Mugabe’s body arrived back in Zimbabwe on Wednesday after dying last week in Singapore while undergoing a medical treatment.
The funeral ceremony of Mugabe who died aged 95 will take place at a football stadium in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare on Saturday.
Mugabe was born on 21 February 1924, in what was then Rhodesia. He led Zimbabwe to independence in 1980 and has ruled the country for decades.
Mugabe was Zimbabwe’s first post-independence leader but resigned from power after a military takeover in November 2017.
Robert Mugabe first served as prime minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017.
Source: Africafeeds.com
