Msipa cannot be buried in a cave - Mugabe declared

President Robert Mugabe reportedly arm-twisted the family of the late Cephas Msipa to have him buried at the National Heroes Acre.

Msipa's family had initially resolved to bury him in Gweru on Saturday as per his wish.

However, according to his son Obert, Mugabe said Msipa cannot be buried in a cave, referring to Midlands Provincial heroes Arce.

"Yes you might have read in the papers of some disagreements that were there but President Mugabe showed us the way.

"President Mugabe said his fellow comrade, his former roommate when they were still bachelors, could not be buried in a cave," said Obert Msipa.

There was mounting speculation that Msipa would be denied national heroes status as he was a staunch critic of Mugabe recently.

Mugabe attended Msipa's funeral wake on Wednesday.

Msipa died on Monday in Harare.