Leo Mugabe, the spokesperson of the family of Zimbabwe’s late founding leader, Robert Mugabe has said that Mugabe’s body was embalmed to last several weeks outside a mortuary.
The body of the former veteran leader who died on the 6th of September in Singapore where he was receiving treatment, has never been into any parlour since arrival in the country.
The date of his burial is still unknown as the mausoleum in which he will be buried is yet to be completed. A Chinese company contracted to build the special grave said that it would take about three months to complete, depending on the availability of resources.
Speaking to ZTN News, Leo said that it had been initially stated that Mugabe’s body would be taken to a local mortuary for preservation. He said:
When I left Harare on Thursday (last week after returning with the body from Zvimba), the general understanding was that the body would be taken to a mortuary or a place to be preserved.However, I have since been told that the preservation process was done in Singapore and the body can last for a month without going to the mortuary. This is something I believe is good as there are no extra expenses.
Leo’s remarks contradict earlier reports by an unnamed family member who reportedly said that Mugabe’s body had been embalmed to last for five years without being put in a cold room.
Mugabe’s body is at the Blue Roof, Mugabe family’s residence in Borrowdale, Harare after the family reportedly refused to send it to One Commando Barracks for safekeeping.
More: The Chronicle