Zimbabwean traditional court has ruled that the late Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe be exhumed and reburied at the country’s national shrine in Harare by July 1. Former First Lady, Grace Mugabe, reportedly exhumed and hid some of the remains of President Robert Mugabe at an unknown location
Mugabe, who was ousted in a coup that brought Emmerson Mnangagwa to power in November 2017, was buried at his village of Kutama after weeks of dispute with Mnangagwa’s government over his final resting place.
A traditional chief in Zvimba district, which includes Kutama, said he had received a complaint from a Mugabe clan member over the manner of his burial.
After presiding over a village court last Thursday, Chief Zvimba on Monday issued a ruling that found Grace Mugabe guilty of breaking traditional norms by burying her husband in the courtyard of his home.
The former first lady, who did not attend the hearing, was fined five cows and a goat. She was also ordered to provide compensation to the workers who would be tasked with exhuming and reburying the remains of her husband.
Mugabe died on Sept. 6, 2019, at the age of 95 but his family refused to have him buried at the Heroes Acre amid a political feud emanating from the November 2017 coup. He was succeeded by Emmerson Mnangagwa, who became president on Nov. 24, 2017.