Honour Mugabe’s legacy – Machel

Leroy Dzenga

A family friend of the late former Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe, Graça Machel, says Mugabe’s role in building key institutions in Africa should be given due credit, as the world reflects on his legacy.

Speaking to the media in Harare on Saturday, Graça Machel, who was married to former Mozambican President Samora Machel, and later, former South African President Nelson Mandela, said Mugabe should be honoured in history.

 “I say to the younger generations, you have to honour Robert Mugabe’s history. That man played a role in shaping the continent as we know it now. Institutions like SADC were born from his great input,” Machel said.

Machel, who is part of a collective of senior former political leaders known as The Elders, was at some point at loggerheads with Mugabe during his reign.

In 2008, The Elders were denied entry into Zimbabwe by Robert Mugabe’s government.

“I do not like to dwell on the negatives, of course we had times where we had our issues, but the important thing is that we should focus on honouring his history. He is admired across Africa and Zimbabweans should understand the stature of the man they have just lost,” said Machel.