Thousands gather in Zimbabwe for former president Robert Mugabe’s state funeral

Foreign leaders and supporters are gathering in a sports stadium in Harare to bid farewell to the former president, who died in Singapore aged 95

After a week of disputes over his final resting place, he will now be buried in a mausoleum in Harare once it is built

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Soldiers carry the coffin of Zimbabwe's former president Robert Mugabe into the Rufaro stadium in Harare. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:19pm, 14 Sep 2019Updated: 9:46pm, 14 Sep 2019

Tens of thousands of people gathered to pay their respects to Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe at the National Sports Stadium in the capital Harare on Saturday.

Eleven African leaders are also expected to attend the state funeral at the stadium, which can seat up to 60,000, according to presidential spokesman George Charamba.

South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Mozambique's Filipe Nyusi are among the African presidents who have confirmed their attendance.

Mugabe, who died last week in Singapore aged 95, left Zimbabwe torn over the legacy of his 37-year rule marked by brutal repression and economic crisis.

A supporter waves a piece of cloth bearing the image of Robert Mugabe. Photo: AFP

Still revered by some as a former freedom fighter against white supremacy, he is despised by others who believe he is responsible for destroying Zimbabwe's economy and violently oppressing any opposition.