Zimbabwe war veteran leader to get state funeral

The leader of Zimbabwe's war veterans is to be given a state funeral.

Chenjerai Hunzvi led the illegal occupation of hundreds of white-owned farms alongside a campaign of intimidation against government opponents.

Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe is due to decide whether or not the 51-year-old is officially pronounced a national hero after his death on Monday.

If he is, Mr Hunzvi would join about 50 ruling party politicians and guerrilla leaders buried at Heroes' Acre, a shrine outside Harare.

"That's a formality as his status is almost obvious. It's doubtful there will be any other option," said Mr Mugabe.

A state funeral with military honours, which accords pensions and sweeping benefits for Mr Hunzvi's family, would be widely received with anger and dismay in Harare and other urban strongholds of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, reports Independent Online.

For more than a year, militants led by veterans of the bush war have illegally occupied more than 1,700 white-owned farms, accusing farmers of supporting the opposition.

The occupations, said to have been orchestrated by Mr Hunzvi, triggered violence against opposition supporters during the run-up to parliamentary elections last June. It has continued ahead of presidential elections early next year.

At least 32 people have died and thousands have been left homeless in the violence.