Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure and Freeman Razemba
All is set for the burial of National Hero, Cde Tinaye Elisha Nzirasha Chigudu, today at the National Heroes Acre.
President Mnangagwa is expected to preside over the burial.
Mourners are expected to be seated by 7am.
Buses to ferry mourners from the provinces had been organised by late yesterday, setting the stage for a huge send-off.
The former Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairperson and a distinguished civil servant, Cde Chigudu, died last Wednesday and was declared a national hero by the President on Friday.
Yesterday, mourners gathered at Chigudu Village in Chiendambuya, Makoni North in Manicaland, to pay their last respects to a man whose legacy as a war veteran, public servant and lawyer will be remembered for generations.
Many people suspended their busy schedules to honour Cde Chigudu’s life, with some along the way to his rural home ululating and waving at the hearse as his body was taken to his village by road. It was not airlifted because of rains in Harare and nearby areas.
He was described as a forthright, unwavering, and goal-oriented leader.
Others described him as humble, friendly, non-selective, non-intimidating, caring, and generous. Chief mourner Advocate Misheck Mugadza, Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, highlighted that Cde Chigudu’s legacy extends beyond his impressive career.
Adv Mugadza acknowledged Cde Chigudu as a champion of the land reform, facilitating many people’s access to land during his tenure as Governor for Manicaland.
Cde Chigudu was remembered for his remarkable contributions to Zimbabwe’s liberation and development, with President Mnangagwa’s decision to confer national hero status on him being widely appreciated by his family, community, and fellow war veterans.
He was described as a shrewd intelligence officer during the liberation struggle, gathering critical information that assisted guerrilla operations. After independence, he spearheaded various development projects in Manicaland, including water development and women’s empowerment programmes.
Chief mourner, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, said Cde Chigudu’s legacy extends beyond his impressive career.
He noted that Cde Chigudu was a champion of land reform, facilitating many people’s access to land during his tenure as Governor of Manicaland, and his commitment to the people was unwavering, making his passing a significant loss to the nation.
He expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for conferring national hero status on Cde Chigudu, describing him as a gallant, illustrious and devoted nationalist.
Minister Mugadza acknowledged Cde Chigudu’s remarkable career.
“This man, Cde Tinaye Chigudu, was a wonderful blessing, not only to your community here, but to Makoni, Manicaland and our great nation at large. This is why we should thank His Excellency the President, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa for conferring the honour of national hero on our gallant, illustrious, devoted and nationalist son. Here lies an intelligence supremo of the province, an astute legal mind, revered public servant who worked at the apex of the public service structure as a Permanent Secretary and a wise politician, whose political wisdom saw him serve as the Governor for Manicaland Province, a position that I now serve, albeit as a reconfigured Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
“My office is a replica of what Cde Chigudu was doing when he served as Governor; principally that of serving the community of Manicaland. He committed himself to delivering Government programmes with delicate appreciation that serving his beloved society with humility was why he took up arms to crush the self-serving whims of the colonial regime.
“Sitting behind the chair that Cde Chigudu used to sit as the Governor of Manicaland, I now know too well what he has had to deal with on a daily basis, ensuring that the people of Manicaland are served well.
“Cde Chigudu has left a mark as a dedicated and fearless son of the soil. When it was risky for anyone to pursue the war, he chose the path to defend our nation. At a very tender age of 22, Cde Chigudu committed to national activism, a sacrifice which saw him imprisoned for 12 years. A number of our young men and women at this age are struggling with drug abuse, unplanned pregnancies and other youth delinquencies that are increasing worry to the Government. Yet Cde Chigudu is an example which we call upon all youth to emulate. In his young age, he became a dependable intelligence operative, providing protective security that our liberation cadres needed. Yet now we have young people in our midst, willing to sell our country for a song, to the extent of calling for sanctions against our kith and kin. Cde Chigudu would never have borne such sell-out mentality.
“Cde Chigudu has remained an unrelenting supporter of our land reform programme, being one of its pioneers. He has remained of the strong conviction that this is the only way to redress past imbalances. As Governor, he has facilitated for many to secure land. It thus is a heavy loss that his demise comes at a point when the Second Republic is pursuing aggressive efforts to guarantee security of tenure for land acquired through the land reform programme which he pioneer. This is a monumental victory which we undoubtedly attribute to the heroic exploits of Cde Chigudu,” said Minister Mugadza.
Zanu PF Central Committee Member, Cde Shadreck Chipanga shared a personal anecdote, describing Cde Chigudu as more than a friend and colleague, who would offer counsel and support during challenging times, demonstrating his commitment to unity and leadership.
Zanu PF provincial chairman Cde Tawanda Mukodza praised Cde Chigudu for paving the way for his own leadership role, highlighting his ability to unite and lead the party to electoral victory.
Provincial War Veterans League chairman Cde Sendekera Musendo described the national hero as a mentor and advisor, noting that his demise is a significant loss to both the Chigudu family and war veterans.
Cde Musendo decried the fact that war veterans are dwindling, with no new ones being born.
The Chigudu family spokesperson, Mr Newton Chigudu, expressed gratitude for the national hero status conferred upon his brother saying their family’s name has been etched in history.
War veteran, Cde Cosmas Chiringa, who worked with the late Cde Chigudu during his tenure as Manicaland Governor and ZANU PF Manicaland provincial chairman, described him as a forthright, unwavering, and goal-oriented person.
“I was both the district administrator and Zanu PF provincial secretary for administration. I worked with him as a politician and public servant, which gave me the opportunity to interact with him daily.
“We worked well together, spearheading the development of and ZANU PF hegemony in Manicaland. He was straightforward and forthright. Cde Chigudu would not tolerate nonsense.
“During our interactions, I found him to be knowledgeable and understanding, with a wealth of political experience. He loved his party, Zanu PF,” he said.
The body of the national hero left Chiendambuya in Makoni North last night for Harare where it lay in state at his Mt Pleasant home ahead of today’s burial.
