ZIMBABWE’S president is one of the more than 14 African heads of state and leaders who will attend the burial of President Levy Mwanawasa on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande said Tuesday.
Mwanawasa had been an arch-critic of Robert Mugabe, once referring to Zimbabwe as a "sinking Titanic."
"We have confirmation from 14 heads of state and government who have indicated their attendance at the burial," Pande told reporters.
Most of them will arrive in the capital Lusaka on Tuesday, while South African President Thabo Mbeki and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame are expected to arrive on Wednesday, the date of the burial, he said.
Mbeki will be accompanied on the trip by Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, an official statement in Pretoria said.
Mwanawasa, 59, who died in a Paris hospital on August 19 after suffering a stroke, will be buried in the capital Lusaka at EmbassyPark, situated outside the presidential secretariat.
Mwanawasa was until his death chairman of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community, and one of the few African leaders to speak out against the policies of Mugabe.
Mbeki took over the leadership of the Community during a summit of the body in Johannesburg last month. AFP
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Ranga • n/a Subject: n/a Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:19:35 • Tisu Vatongi - That's what makes Mugabe a great man...he knows people can disagree, but one is aways respectful and when they die, he attends their funeral with Dignity.
Why did Mugabe not attend Ndabaningi Sithole's funeral if as you say he knows people can disagree, but is always respectful and when they die, he attends their funeral.
n/a • n/a Subject: Mugabe above the lot! Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:53:40 • Mugabe should attend just to show them that he is above what they represent.
Tisu Vatongi • tisu@hotmail.com Subject: Mugabe is Great Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:48:49 • That's what makes Mugabe a great man...he knows people can disagree, but one is aways respectful and when they die, he attends their funeral with Dignity.
Maybe MDC should learn that once a contest is over its over.... but MDC never learns that's why Tichavatonga kusvikira Madhongi amera nyanga!
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:31:49 • Bob should not be too nice with traitors! There is no need to attend this burial! Let traitors of the mdc formations go and attend the burial of their kith and kin! These present day agents of slavery must not be seen to be acceptable to the peaceful pan-African community.
N/a • N/A Subject: N/a Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:29:53 • So can you not quote where it was said Mugabe will attend?
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