admin
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
Acting President, Vice President Constantine Chiwenga this morning presiding over a triple burial of the country’s gallant heroes at the national shrine in Harare.
Major General (Rtd) Solomon Siziba (67), former Post and Telecommunication Minister Cde Chenhamo “Chen” Chakezha Chimutengwende and Ambassador John Mvundura both aged (81) passed on last week.
Major General (Rtd) Siziba succumbed to cancer on Wednesday last week at Josiah Magama Barack Camp Hospital, while Cde Chimutengwende died on Thursday due to a kidney ailment. Ambassador Mvundura succumbed to cancer.
The trio will be remembered for their unwavering fight for the liberation of Zimbabwe at a tender age, joining politics and leaving studies to cross the borders for military training.
After independence, the three contributed immensely to the well-being of Zimbabwe, with Major Geneneral Siziba serving in the Zimbabwe National Army until his retirement last year.
Cde Chimutengwende held various Ministerial portfolios in Government and was also a legislator.
Ambassador Mvundura was in diplomatic missions.
A befitting send-off was granted to the fallen heroes as people from all walks of life and across the political divide thronged the national shrine to pay homage to the three departed sons of the soil.
Major General Siziba was born in Nhwali, Gwanda South, and attended Nhwali Primary School before proceeding to Manama High School in 1976.
The following year, he was part of the group that joined the armed struggle together with the now late national hero, Lieutenant General Sibusiso Busi Moyo, Beitbridge East legislator Cde Albert Nguluvhe, former Commander of the Air Force, Chief Marshal (Rtd)
Elson Moyo and former Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) public relations manager, Mrs Cecilia Bhebhe, among others
He trained in Zambia and was attested to the ZNA during the ceasefire period.
Major General (Rtd) Siziba was stationed at the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru where he rose to the rank of Captain.
He was then transferred to the ZNA headquarters where he worked until 2005, rising to the position of Lieutenant Colonel. He was posted to Botswana as Defence Attaché from 2005 to 2013.
Upon his return to Zimbabwe in 2013, Major General (Rtd) Siziba was appointed the Deputy Commander of One Brigade following his elevation to the rank of Colonel.
From 2013 until 2018, he was appointed Director of Administration at the National Prosecuting Authority.
Major General (Rtd) Siziba returned to the ZNA in 2018 and was elevated to the rank of Brigadier-General and was assigned to the Brigadier-General Inspectorate, a post he held until he retired from the military last year.
He was elevated to the position of Major General upon his retirement and is survived by two children.
Cde Chimutengwende was born on August 28, 1943, and began his political journey at the age of 14.
He rose through the ranks to serve as Secretary for Information and Publicity in the ZANU Youth League by 1963.
In 1964, Cde Chimutengwende received military and ideological training in Ghana under the mentorship of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Later, he led the Europe-Third World Research Centre, exposing the exploitative relationships between Europe and developing nations. A follower of Mao Zedong’s teachings, he remained committed to the liberation struggle while in exile.
After independence, he served Zimbabwe as a Cabinet Minister in various portfolios
He first became a Zanu PF Member of Parliament in 1985 in Mazowe, and served as a legislator for over 25 years.
He also served for 14 years as a Cabinet Minister.
Cde Chimutengwende served as Senator and Deputy President of the Senate, Member of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and Head of the Zimbabwe delegation to the PAP.
He earned a Master’s degree in Social Science and a PhD from the University of Bradford in the UK.
Ambassador Mvundura was born on 8 August 1943 and participated in the liberation struggle known as Cde Shumba Nyamukwati. He started as chair of youths in Old Highfield, and received military training in Mozambique and Tanzania before holding leadership roles within ZANLA.
After independence, he represented Zimbabwe as the country’s Ambassador in Mozambique, Swaziland, Libya, Nigeria and Cuba from 1980 to 2013.
He was appointed the acting provincial chairman of Manicaland after Cde Mike Madiro had stepped down.
He became a substantive provincial chair in November 2013 until his retirement in 2015-@muponderichard
Online Reporter