‘Grace’s grief is immeasurable’: Robert Mugabe’s widow is distraught as his family prepares his body to be flown back to Zimbabwe for state funeral next week as three days of national mourning is declared
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among world leaders to send messages
- Mugabe died yesterday and widow hid her face with a shawl at funeral parlour
- Zimbabwe’s Charge d’Affairs to Singapore said his grief is ‘immeasurable’
Preparations have begun to give Robert Mugabe a state funeral as it was revealed the grief of his hated widow Grace is ‘immeasurable.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among world leaders to send the Zimbabwean government and the widow of its former president his condolences as the country he led for 37 years went into mourning.
Mugabe died in Singapore aged 95 yesterday morning and his widow hid her face from public view as she paid her respects at the funeral parlour where his body had been taken too.
Zimbabwe’s Charge d’Affairs to Singapore Claudius Nhema, speaking exclusively to MailOnline, said: ‘Of course Mr Mugabe will be given a state funeral…he was a national hero.’
A friend arrives at the funeral parlour in Singapore holding a bouquet of lilies. Preparations have begun to give Robert Mugabe a state funeral
Asked why his wife Grace, who is largely despised in her homeland hid her face under a blanket, he said: ‘Her grief is immeasurable.
‘She may have been married to a national hero and President, but ultimately she had lost her husband.’
Mr Nhema, who has been comforting Mugabe’s widow and helping with funeral arrangements, added: ‘She is in pain. It doesn’t matter what religion you are Hindu or Christian or what your background is, the sense of loss is the same for her as anybody.’
He said Mr Johnson had sent a message of sympathy to the Zimbabwean government as had ‘many leaders.’
Friends and relatives arrive to pay their respects to the former leader. Mugabe died in Singapore aged 95 yesterday morning
Asked why his wife Grace, who is largely despised in her homeland hid her face under a blanket (pictured on Friday), he said: ‘Her grief is immeasurable
Adam Molai, who is married to Mr Robert Mugabe’s niece Sandra Mugabe arrive at funeral parlour in Singapore. Preparations have begun to give Robert Mugabe a state funeral
A visitor arrives with a wreath at funeral parlour Singapore Casket, where the body of late former Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is being held
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe addresses people at an event before the closure of his party’s 16th Annual Peoples Conference in Masvingo in 2017
The window now faces possible prosecution for crimes committed while her husband Robert was in power
A state funeral, probably next weekend, is likely to be attended by heads of state mainly from the African continent, but lesser from the rest of the world because of Mugabe’s tyranny in his later years of power.
However, Mr Johnson sent a message of sympathy which appeared to carry a veiled criticism of Mugabe’s brutal tenure during which he was accused of slaughtering thousands.
Mr Johnson said: ‘His resignation in 2017 marked a turning point and we hope that today marks another which allows Zimbabwe to move on from the legacy of its past and become a democratic, prosperous nation that respects the human rights of its citizens.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among world leaders to send the Zimbabwean government and the widow of its former president his condolences
Bona Mugabe, the daughter of late former Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, is seen outside the funeral parlour
Zimbabwe’s Charge d’Affairs to Singapore Claudius Nhema, speaking exclusively to Mail Online, said his grief was ‘immeasurable’
Friends of former Zimbabwe president seen arriving at Singapore Casket this morning
But South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa described Mugabe, who reportedly once said ‘the only white man you can trust is a dead white man, described him as liberation fighter.
‘South Africans join the people and Government of Zimbabwe in mourning the passing of a liberation fighter and champion of Africa’s cause against colonialism’ he said.
Mugabe’s body, which is lying in the Singapore Casket funeral home on a busy dual carriageway, was visited by friends from Zimbabwe and a Christian Irish missionary Rev Joshua, who declined to comment.
Mr Molai and Robert Mugabe’s niece Sandra arrive at the Singapore Casket building, where the body of former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is being held
The Zimbabwean flag flies at half-mast on a street in Harare, Saturday
Visitors carrying wreaths enter the building as they prepare for a state funeral for the former leader
A woman carrying a wreath of lilies arrives at the Singapore Casket building
But Mugabe’s family are preparing documentation and expect a military aircraft to be sent from Harare next week to take his remains back to Africa.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will declare Mugabe formally as a National Hero, which is normally a status reserved for icons of the country’s independence war.
He said he gave his heartfelt condolences to Grace Mugabe, the Mugabe family and the children ‘on this their saddest loss.’
Relatives and friends of the former leader arrive at Singapore Casket this morning
Robert Mugabe addresses party members and supporters gathered at his party headquarters to show support to Grace becoming the party’s next Vice President in November 2017
Then US First Lady Hillary Clinton is escorted by Mugabe and Grace in Harare in March 1997
He added: ‘Amai Mugabe stood by her husband to the very end, thus imparting to our nation a lasting lesson on devout love and care.
‘For that we deeply thank her, as we join her in the grief and loss and bereavement which is also ours to feel and bear.’
But the former Zimbabwean First Lady, despite the President’s support, faces an uncertain future as she is widely despised and accused of pillaging the country’s finances for her own use.
Mugabe and Grace pose for a photo after a press conference at their residence in Harare in July 2018
She became known as ‘Gucci Grace’ because of her lavish spending, particularly when she visited Singapore’s vast number of designer stores on Orchard Road.
More than £60,000 was once spent on a single visit to a department store.
Mugabe is believed to have left behind a multi-million-pound estate which was built from his days as ruler.
His widow is reportedly sitting on a £1 billion mountain of cash
His only daughter with Grace Mugabe Bona, 31, studied in Singapore and is said to own a luxury home in the island nation.
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