Mugabe died in September 2019 and his remains were buried at his rural home in Kutama, Zvimba, after his family indicated that he wished to be laid to rest there.

This however led to a face-off with a group of Chiefs who questioned the decision. Chief Zvimba had ordered Grace, Mugabe’s widow, to ensure that the former Statesman’s remains were exhumed and reburied in Harare.

Chief Beperere, born Alfred Tome, who succumbed to Covid-19 last month backed Zvimba on the order. However following Chief Beperere’s death, the  family now claims he was a victim of Mugabe’s vengeful spirit.

Beperere’s son Edward, who was spokesperson for the Zvimba chiefs when they met President Emmerson Mnangagwa in September last year is now allegedly afflicted by an undisclosed ailment.

One of Edward’s sons is also said to be sick, while Chief Zvimba and Chidziva are reportedly now bed-ridden. Tinos Manongovere, the headman who took Grace Mugabe to the traditional court demanding Mugabe’s burial, blamed Chief Zvimba’s woes on old age.

Manongovere said “There is nothing amiss about his ill health. Remember he is advanced in age. At more than 80 years old you can’t expect him to be running up and down like a teenager.”

However a member of Mugabe’s family, Dominic Matibiri maintained that the former President’s spirit is “settling issues with the living”.

Matibiri said “The spirit of the departed has a way of settling issues with the living. As Mugabe family, we will not mourn Chief Beperere with others because we feel that he was being punished by the avenging spirit for taking part in the ex- humation judgement”

A state-owned newspaper reported that President Emmerson Mnangagwa made the disclosure while addressing party members in New York where he is attending this week’s United Nations General Assembly, but he did not disclose the type.

Mnangagwa was quoted saying by The Herald newspaper on Monday saying “Treatment had stopped, doctors had stopped treatment, chemotherapy, one, because of age and also because the cancer had spread and it was not helping anymore”.

WikiLeaks reported in 2011 that the former leader had prostate cancer which also affected other organs. The report was denied by top government officials at that time.

The confirmation comes after disagreements between the family and the government about where the former leader should be buried. The family initially said they would prefer to honour Mugabe’s wishes and have him buried next to his mother in his rural home in Kutama, about 85 kilometres from Harare. They then agreed to the symbolic funeral on Sunday in the hope that the real burial would take place at a later date, giving them time to carry out the traditional rituals

Mugabe’s body was returned to Zimbabwe on Wednesday from Singapore, where he died at the age of 95. He had been seeking treatment there for an undisclosed illness since April.

The burial was earlier scheduled to hold on Sunday September 15th in Zimbabwe but its not likely to hold again as family members of the deceased ex-president confirmed the development to Zimlive.

According to Mugabe’s nephew, Leo Mugabe, who is also the family’s spokesman said, “Mugabe was a chief and he will be buried in accordance with tradition. The chiefs have not told us where he will be buried, so it is not clear yet. I also don’t know”.

This is coming just a few hours after the demise of ex-resident, Robert Mugabe. According to government spokesman Nick Mangwana, ‘he passed away early this morning”.

Mugoba left his post in March 2017 after he was seconded to the African Union where he assumed the position of Chief of Staff of the continental’s body’s Stand-by Force. It was only months after Mugoba’s departure that Zimbabwe’s military moved against longtime ruler Robert Mugabe, ousting him in a coup in November 2017.

His death was announced by the country’s president, Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 to 2017

Emmerson Mnangagwa tweeted “It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President … Robert Mugabe”