Mugabe claims to be 'very British'

Despite having been stripped of his knighthood by Britain, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe told the multitude of people who attended his sister's burial that he was "very British."

Mugabe is considered by Western countries including Britain to be a dictator who won his war against Zimbabwe's white farmers.

"I am very British you know, that is why I even measure distance in miles. It is easy because the ratio is 5 miles to 8km, so for that ndinomboti pamberi nemaBritish," (hail the British) he said.

In 1994, Mugabe was appointed an honorary Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II. This entitled him to use the postnominal letters GCB, but not to use the title "Sir."

In the United Kingdom, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee called for the removal of this honour in 2003, and on 25 June 2008, the Queen cancelled and annulled the honorary knighthood after advice from the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom.

"This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided".

Mugabe, who lacked the usual spiritedness in his step, spoke for 67 minutes at the burial of his sister Bridgette who died on Sunday morning after three years in a coma.

Speculation has been swirling that the almost 90-year old strongman is sick - but he managed to walk for some distance during the funeral.

Mugabe, who will be turning 90 on February 21, has buried all his siblings.

Regina Gata is Mugabe's only surviving half-sister.

Service chiefs, government ministers, diplomats and scores of people drawn from across the country, came to pay their respects to Mugabe who revealed another side of him.

Mugabe also revealed a painful past of abandonment and loss of his closest relatives as he told mourners that he could not even explain his long life.