Dalphine Tagwireyi
Robert Mugabe’s children are challenging the ruling of a traditional court that Mugabe’s remains must be reburied.
Bona Mugabe, executor of Mugabe’s estate, Bellarmine Mugabe and Tinotenda Mugabe are willing to fight for the judgment of Chief Zvimba to be overturned.
In their appeal, they argue that Chief Zvimba, real name Stanley Wurayayi Mhondoro, did not have the authority to make a ruling over Mugabe’s body as he was buried at his homestead.
In April, Chief Zvimba of Kutama village ordered Mugabe’s widow Grace to appear at the local court to explain why Mugabe was buried at his homestead and birthplace in Kutama village.
According to tradition, a leader should be laid to rest at Heroes Acre in Harare.
Grace failed to appear and a ruling was made to have Mugabe’s remains exhumed.
The former first lady was also fined 1 goat and 5 cows for failing to appear.
In passing judgement on 20 May, the chief advised that Grace Mugabe could appeal the judgment before 1 July.
The lawyer representing the Mugabe children, Fungai Chimwemurombe, told Scrolla.Africa that the case will be heard on 29 June after a Notice of Appeal was filed at the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court.
The papers state that Chief Zvimba was never qualified to make a ruling in the first place.
“Chief Zvimba imposed himself with territorial jurisdiction to the affairs of an area he has no jurisdiction over, ” the appeal letter read.
“The Mugabe family are contesting the ruling from the chief’s traditional court and have opted for the legal route to challenge it. As the matter is already before the courts, we will allow the law to take its course”, said Chimwemurombe.
