A Zimbabwean magistrate on Friday ruled that Robert Mugabe's remains should be exhumed and reburied at the national heroes' shrine in the capital city, rekindling a row over the late former leader's resting place.
The 95-year-old former leader, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years from independence until he was ousted in a coup in November 2017, died in September 2019 while in Singapore, where he had been in hospital for several months.
He was buried at his village of Kutama after weeks of dispute with Mnangagwa's government over his final resting place.
In May this year, a chief in Zimbabwe ordered the exhumation and reburial of Mugabe's remains at the national heroes' shrine in Harare after accusing the late leader's wife of breaking local custom by interring him at his rural home in 2019.
A traditional chief in Zvimba district, which includes Kutama, said he had received a complaint from a Mugabe clan member over the manner of his burial.
After presiding over a village court, Chief Zvimba issued a ruling that found Grace Mugabe guilty of breaking traditional norms by burying her husband in the courtyard of his home.
The former first lady, who did not attend the hearing, was fined five cows and a goat.
"I give powers to those who are permitted by law to exhume the late Robert Mugabe's remains from Kutama and rebury them at the National Heroes Acre in Harare," said a copy of the ruling in the local Shona language.
