adminVeteran nationalist, first Chief of Protocol of Independent Zimbabwe and former Governor and Resident Minister of Mashonaland West Province, Cde Peter Tapera Chanetsa, succumbed to heart failure on Monday, 2 January 2017 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare. He passed on after a protracted battle with chronic diabetes and hypertension.He was 70. Early life Cde Chanetsa was born in Chinhoyi on 15 July 1946, to Tapera and Jesi Chanetsa (nee) Muzarabani in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province.
He was the fifth born in a family of 11 children comprising of seven boys and four girls. He attended Fear-Not Primary school in Chinhoyi old location for his Sub A and B, Charles Clark Primary School in Magunje for Standard 1 and Donnybrook Primary for Standard Two.
After completing primary school, he proceeded to Nyamutora Secondary school in Mabvuku.
He later accomplished Standard 12 at Kantaramba Secondary School in Tanzania. After completing his secondary education, Cde Chanetsa, together with other youths of his time, faced some political and economic hardships in the then Rhodesia. He then hooked up with his Indian friend and crossed into Zambia to join the liberation struggle.
Pre-independence life
In the late 1960s, Cde Chanetsa went to Mwanza, Tanzania, where he furthered his education and joined other nationalists in prosecuting the liberation struggle. Between 1970 and 1973, Cde Chanetsa was attached to Chama Chamapinduzi Dodoma Training of Adminstration of Vijiji Za Ujaaa at Buigiri, Murowa Barabarani and Chamwino.
In 1974, Cde Chanetsa was deployed at the ZANU office in Tanzania to carry out protocol and security duties.
During that same year in April, Cde Chanetsa met his wife to be, Beatrice Gaurwa, who was working in the Tanzania Judiciary Services.
In 1977, while at Chimoio, he was appointed Chief of Protocol and had the responsibility of welcoming the Party’s leadership during the liberation struggle each time they went there for political meetings.
In the same year, he represented the Party at the Indian Ocean Islands Progressive Parties’ Conference hosted by the then President of Madagascar, Didiier Ratseraka. In October 1978, Cde Chanetsa married Beatrice who became very helpful in hosting top ZANU officials during their political visits to Tanzania.
During that same year, he went to Khartoum, Sudan, in advance to prepare for the arrival of the First Secretary and President of ZANU (PF), Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe and his delegation for the Organisation of Africa Unity summit.
In 1979, he went to Britain as part of the advance team to prepare for the arrival of President Mugabe and his delegation at the Lancaster House Agreement, he travelled to America to request Zimbabwean students and other comrades to return home and assist in pending elections.
As Chief Protocol designate, Cde Chanetsa, chaired by the late national hero Cde Richard Hove, charged with preparations for Zimbabwe’s first lndependence celebrations.
Post- independence
political life
At lndependence, Cde Chanetsa was appointed Chief of Protocol.
In that capacity, he contributed immensely to Government protocol work in terms of the training of young officers under his supervision, the development of diplomatic skills and knowledge in the incipient diplomatic cadre in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the Unity Accord of 1987, Cde Chanetsa became the first district chairman of ZANU PF in Tengwe, Hurungwe.
When Namibia got Independence in 1990, he was invited by SWAPO to help set up government structures and he stayed there up to 1995.
Upon his return to Zimbabwe, Cde Chanetsa was elected Member of Parliament for Hurungwe East in a by-election following the passing on of MP Titus Mutyambizi.
Soon after, he was appointed Governor and Resident Minister of Mashonaland West, where he served until December 2003. During his tenure as Governor, Cde Chanetsa oversaw the crunch phase of the land reform programme in his province.
He was instrumental in the development of Magunje Irrigation scheme in 1996, the construction of Murereshi and Chirot bridges in 1999 and the establishment of Hurungwe Prison which was allocated a farm that enlisted in the Command Agriculture programme in 2016.
In 2008, Cde Chanetsa become MP for Hurungwe North until 2013 and during that time he helped in the electrification of Chibara clinic in ward 22. Cde Chanetsa also served as Party Provincial Commissar between 1995 and 1996. At the time of his death, he was ZANU PF Central Committee member for Mashonaland West Province.
Hero status
Cde Chanetsa was unanimously declared a national hero by the ZANU PF Politburo in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the liberation and development of Zimbabwe.
He was described by the Acting President, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa as an unwavering and principled cadre. Characterising his devotion to ZANU PF, his brother Kenneth Chanetsa said, “He died loving and working for his political party ZANU PF.
Cde Chanetsa is survived by wife Beatrice and three childen — Tongai, Edphan and Peter.
May his soul rest in peace
Zororai murugare gamba redu!
Hamba kahle, qhawe lethu!
Rest in peace son of the soil!
Compiled by the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.
Online Reporter