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.
Ramaphosa said the acts of violence in South Africa are against the unity that Robert Mugabe, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and other African leaders worked towards building.
“President Mugabe was a friend of the African National Congress and the people of South Africa and he stood by us during our darkest hour. He was unwavering in his support for our liberation struggle.”
“Under his leadership Zimbabwe, and especially Zanu PF, gave both moral and material support to us at a time when our leadership was forced into exile and our people were suffering under the yolk of apartheid,” said Ramaphosa.
Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta said, “Mugabe was a visionary leader. He left an indelible mark… an embodiment of the Pan African spirit.”
“President Mugabe was a friend of Cuba. “We are here to say goodbye to our friend,” declared Cuba VP Maria Chapman.
The Chinese envoy representing President Xi JinPing, speaking in Chinese, said: “Mugabe visited China many times. He made remarkable contributions for China and Zimbabwe relations. His passing is a loss to Zimbabwe and Chinese are deprived of a bold and good friend.”
WATCH: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang pays tribute to Robert Mugabe from Beijing.
On behalf of the Russian people and President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s ambassador to Zimbabwe described “Mugabe as an icon whose legacy shall live on, and what he did despite the ‘brutal sanctions’ imposed in Zimbabwe.”
Jerry Rawlings, representing Ghana, pointed to Mugabe’s “eloquent, oratory skills and sharp wit,” calling him a “pioneer of black assertiveness.”
The former Ghanaian president also spoke on how Mugabe’s “outstanding leadership” helped gain independence for Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa said, “A dark cloud enveloped our country when our founding father ex President Mugabe passed on 6 September in Singapore. He was taken away from us, the people, he fought to free.”
Mnangagwa said Mugabe stood in defence of Africans and urged the West to remove sanctions that were imposed during Mugabe’s rule.
In an address to the media Friday, the former President’s nephew Leo Mugabe said his uncle will be laid to rest following the construction of his final resting site at Heroes Acre.
