Mugabe orders national shrine burial for Msipa

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

Fresh from an official visit in Madagascar, President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday visited the sons and relatives of the late Cephas Msipa and declared that the former cabinet minister and ruling Zanu PF senior  member would be buried at the National Heroes Acre.

Msipa passed away last week at 85 and had wished to be buried next to his wife at the Midlands provincial heroes’ cemetery.

Some members of his family were pushing for Msipa’s wish to be fulfilled, but Mugabe insisted when he went to pay his condolences that the late hero be buried at the national shrine.

Msipa will be buried on Saturday.

Mugabe said although Msipa’s family had made known the former Midlands provincial governor’s wish, he must be buried in Harare in accordance with the national hero status he had been conferred with.

“There is nothing to discuss here. He (Msipa) is a great hero. We honour him as we have done others (who were buried at the national shrine). I heard while in Madagascar that Msipa had already chosen his grave next to his wife.

“I later learnt, though, the differences that arose from that were resolved, so I assumed the problem had been solved. Is the issue of him being (beside his wife) still raging, so that I can make my own decision?” said Mugabe.

He said he was related to Msipa as a nephew and would use that to make a decision on where Msipa would be buried.

“Will you want to bury Msipa on your own? He was my uncle. There is permanent care at the National Heroes Acre, so I will not let him (be buried at the provincial shrine). You as my uncles must allow me to rule you and make decisions,” added Mugabe.

He admitted he feared the relatives would unilaterally decide to bury him at the provincial shrine in his absence. Nehanda Radio