happiness Chikwanha
Herald Reporter
The body of Brigadier-General Misheck Tanyanyiwa, who died last week in Beijing, China, arrived in Harare yesterday.The body arrived at the Harare International Airport aboard an Ethiopian Airways plane and was received by service chiefs led by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Zanu-PF officials and other Government officials, who included Minister of State for Harare Province Cde Miriam Chikukwa.
Gen Chiwenga said Brig-Gen Tanyanyiwa, whose Chimurenga name was “Nemi Tichapedzerana”, was the first black officer to lead the Commando Regiment, adding that he also contributed immensely towards the establishment of specialised forces that included the Parachute Regiment.
“He was a committed cadre who worked tirelessly in liberating the country and in its defence after independence,” he said.
“During his tenure in China, he managed to improve the economic relations between Zimbabwe and the Asian country that saw the People’s Liberation Army of China building the National Defence College.”
Zimbabwe’s ambassador to China Cde Fredrick Shava, who accompanied the body from China, described Brig-Gen Tanyanyiwa as a hard working man, while former ambassador and Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa said he was an icon of the nation whose contribution to the economy was immeasurable.
Brig-Gen Tanyanyiwa, who was Zimbabwe’s Defence Attaché to China, spent eight years in the Asian country. He died in Beijing on Tuesday last week at the age of 58. Brig-Gen Tanyanyiwa joined the liberation war in Mozambique in 1975 and underwent military training at Mgagao Training Centre in Tanzania under Zanla in 1976.
Online Reporter