This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
On September 14, 2019, Robert Mugabe's nephew announced that the former Zimbabwean president would be buried in a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre in Harare in about 30 days, contradicting earlier comments that burial would be held on Sunday.
The decision came after a week of disputes over Mugabe's burial, which threatened to embarrass his successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mugabe led Zimbabwe for 37 years, from independence until he was ousted by the army in November 2017. He died in a Singapore hospital on September 6, 2019, at the age of 95.
His wife, Grace Mugabe, wanted Mugabe to be laid to rest at his homestead in a snub of Mnangagwa, who called for his burial in the national Heroes' Acre monument.
Many other members of the ruling ZANU-PF party wanted Mugabe to be buried at the national shrine to heroes of the 15-year liberation war against white minority rule.
President Mnangagwa, who conspired to topple Mugabe, said building a new mausoleum as a compromise would delay the burial of the man who was once his mentor.
On Saturday, 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 ordinary Zimbabweans could say their farewells.
Senior army generals and Mugabe's wife and children followed as a brass band played.
"Today, let us put aside our differences and come together as we remember the past and look to the future as one proud, independent and free nation," the president wrote on Twitter.
