HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa says Zimbabweans give former President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, their “broad support” following the death of the former First Lady’s mother in Harare on Thursday night.
In a sign of thawing relations between Mnangagwa and the man he deposed in a military coup last November, the Zanu PF leader told of his “sadness” at the “sorrowful development”.
Idah Marufu died at the Trauma Centre in Borrowdale on Friday morning. She was 83.
Mugabe and the former First Lady failed to attend Mnangagwa’s inauguration on August 26 citing ill-health, according to a letter from Mugabe read by Mnangagwa. They sent their daughter, Bona, and son-in-law Simba Chikore to represent them.
The former First Lady has been receiving treatment in Singapore for an undisclosed ailment, which is where she was when news of her mother’s death reached her.
Mnangagwa, in a personally signed press statement, said: “I learnt with sadness of the death last night of Ambuya Marufu, mother to our former First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, and mother in law to our former President, Cde R.G. Mugabe.
“This sorrowful development visits us at a time when the Mugabes are not well, with Amai Mugabe away in Singapore where she has been receiving medical attention.
“My heart goes out to the family.”
Mnangagwa urged “our entire nation to stand with, and rally behind the Marufu and Mugabe families so their sorrows are assuaged and made bearable.”
He added: “On behalf of the party, Zanu PF, government, the Mnangagwa family, and on my own behalf, I want to express my deepest condolences to the Marufu and Mugabe families on their saddest loss. May they derive comfort from the broad support which the nation continues to give them during this hour of deep sorrow and grief. May Mbuya Marufu’s soul rest in eternal peace.”
Mugabe backed Mnangagwa’s challenger Nelson Chamisa on election eve in late July, drawing swift condemnation from the ranks of Mnangagwa loyalists who labelled him a traitor and threatened to dishonour him, including getting the main airport in Harare, named after him, to change its name.
But with a letter congratulating Mnangagwa on his inauguration, the former President and his former protégé appear on course to mend their relations.
The condolence message will go some way in bringing both men closer, amid speculation that a meeting between the two could be on the cards – no doubt aimed at healing mutual feelings of betrayal.
