By Diana Rose Wairumbi
Former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe has denied claims he rejected an invitation from his successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa to attend this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
On April 18 Zimbabwe celebrated its 38th Independence anniversary in Harare. The event was attended by a number of prominent dignitaries, including opposition party leaders and diplomats.
Reports last week quoted presidential spokesperson George Charamba as saying that Mugabe had been officially invited to the celebrations, which were the first without Mr. Mugabe as the leader of the southern African country.
Charamba said that Mugabe had previously stated that he would attend but was a no show on the day of the celebrations.
Charamba, who served as Mugabe’s spokesperson for decades until Mugabe’s forced resignation last year said at the time that the former leader should be left alone as he needed to rest since he had just returned from the Far East.
Mugabe however denied the claims, saying that he was never invited to attend the independence celebrations, according to a NewsDay report.
“I definitely was not invited to it. This should put paid to all the comments that Charamba had to make on this matter,” Mugabe said.
