Riyaz Patel
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa paid tribute to the country’s founding father, Robert Mugabe, at a state funeral in Harare, Saturday, while President Cyril Ramaphosa was booed by the crowd.
“Today Zimbabwe is mourning the demise of a great son of the soil, a visionary and champion of our empowerment,” said Mnangagwa, addressing African heads of state, former presidents, and a host of foreign dignitaries at the National Sports Stadium.
Zimbabwe’s former and founding president died in Singapore earlier this month aged 95.
President Ramaphosa’s tribute was interrupted by boos and jeers from the crowd, as Zimbabweans voiced their displeasure at the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
After the MC calmed the crowd, Ramaphosa apologised. “I stand before you as a fellow African, to express my regret and to apologise for what happened in our country,” he said.
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