News / National
Mugabe rushes to Zvimba
21 Jan 2014 at 17:10hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe Monday left Harare for his rural home of Kutama, Mashonaland West, to receive the body of his late sister, Bridget, who died on Sunday after almost four years in coma.
Family spokesperson Gabriel Mugabe told mourners gathered at a funeral parlour for a short church service in Harare yesterday that Mugabe had wanted to collect his sibling's body, but decided to go "and prepare for her arrival" at his rural home in Zvimba district.
"He (Mugabe) had wanted to be here with us to collect the body, but decided against that because there is noone kumusha (rural home) to prepare for her body's arrival," a grief stricken Gabriel said before breaking down.
Mugabe's youngest sister died aged 79 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after spending close to four years on a life-supporting machine. She is survived by a daughter and several grandchildren.
Present at the parlour were Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana and Senate president Edna Madzongwe.
Bridget has been on life support since she collapsed at the National Heroes' Acre during the burial of her elder sister Sabina in August 2010.
According to health experts, coma is a state of unconsciousness and the person cannot be awoken as they lack the normal sleep-wake cycle.
A coma patient may appear awake, but they would be unable to consciously speak, hear or move.
A person in coma would retain basic life support functions such as breathing and circulation.
Family spokesperson Gabriel Mugabe told mourners gathered at a funeral parlour for a short church service in Harare yesterday that Mugabe had wanted to collect his sibling's body, but decided to go "and prepare for her arrival" at his rural home in Zvimba district.
"He (Mugabe) had wanted to be here with us to collect the body, but decided against that because there is noone kumusha (rural home) to prepare for her body's arrival," a grief stricken Gabriel said before breaking down.
Mugabe's youngest sister died aged 79 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after spending close to four years on a life-supporting machine. She is survived by a daughter and several grandchildren.
Bridget has been on life support since she collapsed at the National Heroes' Acre during the burial of her elder sister Sabina in August 2010.
According to health experts, coma is a state of unconsciousness and the person cannot be awoken as they lack the normal sleep-wake cycle.
A coma patient may appear awake, but they would be unable to consciously speak, hear or move.
A person in coma would retain basic life support functions such as breathing and circulation.
Source - zimmail
