Harare — THOUSANDS of mourners, led by President Mugabe, are expected to throng the National Heroes Acre to attend the burial of Vice President Joseph Wilfred Msika, who passed away on Wednesday last week.

Among those expected to converge at the national shrine to give the late Vice President a befitting send-off are Cabinet ministers, friends, relatives, diplomats and politicians from across the party divide.

Yesterday Tanzanian Vice President Ali Mohammed Shain arrived in the country to mourn the passing on of VP Msika. Accompanied by his wife, Madam Mwana Mwema Shain, he was welcomed at the Harare International Airport by Environment and Natural Resources Minister Francis Nhema and the Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe.

Botswana VP Mompate Morafe also arrived in the country last night for VP Msika's burial.

The body of VP Msika will leave his Mandara residence this morning for Stodart Hall in Mbare, where President Mugabe, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, is expected to lead the public in viewing the body.

The body will then be taken to the national shrine for burial.

Yesterday the Vice President's body was taken from 1 Commando to his residence where it was to lie in state last night.

Relatives and friends kept a vigil at the VP's residence last night as the day was set aside for family members.

Secretary for Home Affairs Mr Melusi Matshiya accompanied the body to the family residence, where several Cabinet ministers were on hand to welcome it.

They included Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made, Minister of State in the President's Office John Nkomo and Minister of State in VP Msika's Office Flora Buka.

Also present were Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Nathan Shamuyarira and Zimbabwe's Ambassador to South Africa Simon Khaya-Moyo.

On Friday, the body was taken to his Chiweshe rural home, before it was flown to Bulawayo where he started his political career.

In Bulawayo, his body was taken to his residence in Matshemhlophe and White City Stadium, where Bulawayo residents bade him farewell.

The body was flown back to Harare on Saturday evening.

A mass led by retired Anglican Bishop Jonathan Siyachitema was conducted at his Mandara residence last night.

In an interview, family spokesperson Mr Sydney Musikavanhu hailed the State for supporting the family during its time of bereavement.

"We are very grateful to the State for the assistance we got as a family during these trying times when we lost our caring father and grandfather. We would also want to thank all those who stood behind us during this time of grieving," said Mr Musikavanhu.

"The State has also accorded us an opportunity to mourn our father in private despite the fact that we have not barred anyone from coming to pay their last respects. We have also been joined by relatives from abroad."

Earlier in the day, another relative, Cde Olivia Muchena, described the late VP as a frank and forthright person who did not harbour grudges against anyone.

Cde Muchena, who is Women, Gender and Community Development Minister, was addressing friends and relatives during a praise and worship session.

"He was that kind of person who would shout at you when you do a shoddy job but would not keep any grudge," said Cde Muchena, who also worked as a minister in the late VP's office.

Several heads of state -- both sitting and retired -- have sent their condolences to the Government and the Msika family following VP Msika's death.

They included South African President Jacob Zuma and Zambian founding president Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who flew into the country on Thursday last week.

VP Msika is survived by his wife, Mai Maria, three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.