Times Of Swaziland: ESWATINI MOURNS ROBERT MUGABE’S DEATH

ESWATINI MOURNS ROBERT MUGABE’S DEATH
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BY STHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO on 06/09/2019 22:52:00


MBABANE – who infamously claimed that ‘only God’ could remove him from
power, passed on yesterday.
The former president of Zimbabwe died at the age of 95 while receiving treatment
at a Singapore Hospital.
His death was announced by the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa,
yesterday.
Mnangagwa was quoted in a Twitter post, saying, “It is with the utmost sadness
that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former
President, Cde Robert Mugabe.”
Icon
Mnangagwa described his predecessor as “an icon of liberation, a
pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his
people,” adding, “His contribution to the history of our nation and
continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Government Spokesperson Percy Simelane also confirmed that it had been
officially communicated that the former president had died.
“The Zimbabwean president made an official announcement this morning
(yesterday),” Simelane said.
He stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
would issue a statement of condolences.
Simelane also disclosed that Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini paid
tribute to the late president on South Africa’s television news channel, eNCA.
Asked about his personal experience with the former statesman, Simelane said he
had some encounters with the late Mugabe as a journalist and also as a
government spokesperson.
However, he politely requested not to share them lest he contaminated the
official condolences position of the State.
In a statement, government, through the ministry, passed its deepest to the
Mugabe family and the people of Zimbabwe.
The statement read: “I have it in command by His Majesty King Mswati III of
the Kingdom of Eswatini,
Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the Government and people of the kingdom of
Eswatini, as well as on my own, to express our grief on learning about the
demise of Zimbabwe’s long- serving President and Africa’s stalwart Dr Robert
Gabriel Mugabe.
“It is our hope and prayer that the Almighty God will comfort the family,
relatives and friends of the deceased, the government and the people of Republic
of Zimbabwe during this hour of bereavement.”
Speaker of the House of Assembly Petros Mavimbela also passed his sincere
condolences to the people of Zimbabwe.
Model
Mavimbela described Mugabe as a role model for people tasked with leading
different institutions.
“He proved to be a strong leader who could not be easily swayed. The West
tried, but he stood his ground.  We need people such as Mugabe. If you are given
a responsibility, you must be seen to be working,” the Speaker said.
Like any normal human being, Mavimbela said the late former president had his
flaws and weaknesses.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he said.
Mugabe, who was one of the longest-serving presidents in Africa, had good
relations with His Majesty King Mswati III.
When the country celebrated its 40th independence, Mugabe was the King’s main
guest. He also joined the nation in celebrating the King’s 40th birthday.
At one point during his bitter squabbles with opposition leader, the late Morgan
Tsvangirai, Southern African leaders held an emergency meeting in the country to
discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe.
The meeting, which was called by the the Southern African Development Community
(SADC), amid mounting international pressure on Mugabe to resolve his
country’s political turmoil and economic meltdown, was chaired by His Majesty
the King.
The leaders attended the meeting in their capacity as the SADC’s Troika Organ
on Politics, Defence and Security.
Isolate
Earlier to the meeting, Tsvangirai had urged the United Nations to isolate
Mugabe.
Worth noting, Tsvangirai could not attend the meeting after he failed to secure
travel documents.
On another note, government expressed grief on learning about the devastation
caused by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas to the families and relatives of those
who lost their lives during the storm.