By Tendai Matunhu

Following pressure and isolation from the Gushungo clan and traditional leaders in Zvimba, former first lady, Grace Mugabe is reportedly contemplating on the idea of reburying her husband former president, Robert Gabriel Mugabe at the National Shrine.

Speaking to this publication on conditions of anonymity, one family member said, former first lady is reconsidering the idea after traditional leaders and relatives showed their displeasure with the decision of burying the late president Mugabe at his rural home by snubbing his memorial service over the weekend.

 “Traditional leaders from the Gushungo clan and three chiefs from Zvimba namely, Chief Bepere, Chief Zvimba and Chief Chidziva protested by snubbing the memorial service. The chiefs are accusing the former first lady of having been influenced by G40 kingpins Saviour Kasukuwere, Ignitious Chombo, Patrick Zhuwao, Walter Muzembi and Walter Muzembi,” he said.

Nephews to the late former president Mugabe, namely, Leo Mugabe, Kaitano Mugabe and Albert Mugabe also refused to attend the memorial service. Surprisingly children to the late former president, Robert Junior and Balamine were also not present at the memorial service.

The Memorial service is said to have been poorly organised and attended with only a handful of people present. The memorial service also had inadequate food for guests.

Chief Zvimba revealed to this publication that former first lady had sent him text messages inviting him and other Zvimba based Chiefs to come and discuss on the possibility of reburying the former president at the National Shrine.

Government and the Gushungo family had agreed on burying the late former president at the National Shrine, but the G40 had to find ways of getting to President Mnangagwa, that is why they pressured former first lady into changing the burial plans, so they could embarrass President Mnangagwa. The former first lady has been ditched by the G40 cabals who had promised her a position in their new political party, but the G40 have already started a movement called #TysonWabantu.

The late former president, Robert Mugabe died in Singapore on, 6 September 2019, and Government honoured him with the Heroes status which he solely deserved. The Gushungo family and Government had agreed that the late former President Mugabe would be buried at the National Shrine after the construction of a Mausoleum in his honour. However the family decided to later bury him at his rural home and Government still honoured the decision.