Online Reporter
Zimpapers Reporter
NATIONAL hero Cde Cosmas Chiringa was a patriotic cadre who served the nation with distinction both during and after the struggle for independence, ZANU PF Secretary for Education, Ideology and Research Cde Charles Tawengwa has said.
Speaking at the family’s Newlands home on Friday night while announcing the conferment of national hero status on Cde Chiringa by President Mnangagwa, Cde Tawengwa, who is also the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution, described the late Permanent Secretary for the province as a “servant of the people”.
“He was a seasoned public administrator and servant of the people of Zimbabwe,” said Cde Tawengwa.
Cde Chiringa died at West End Hospital in Harare on Monday due to heart failure.
He was 67.
His burial is tentatively set for Wednesday, subject to confirmation by the Office of the President and Cabinet.
The draft funeral programme indicates that the late hero’s body will today depart from Charles Gumbo Barracks for Nyanga, Kanyuru village, under Chief Saunyama, where a church service will be held in his honour and to allow the community to bid him farewell.
Afterwards, the body will be flown to Rusape, Plot 213, Bexhill Farm, where it will lie in state, before being flown back to Harare tomorrow.
On Tuesday, the body is expected to be taken from Charles Gumbo Barracks to the family residence. It will then be taken back to Charles Gumbo Barracks to lie in state ahead of burial.
Born on December 10, 1960, in Nyanga district, Cde Chiringa joined the liberation struggle at the age of 16 on September 16, 1976.
He trained at Doroi Camp before proceeding to Chimoio, where he underwent further training at Takawira Base 2.
Cde Chiringa later trained at Nachingwea Camp in Tanzania under Regiment 7 before being appointed Political Commissar for Regiment 13, a role that saw him being responsible for the political education and ideological orientation of cadres.
In 1979, he was deployed to the Musikavanhu Sector in Mozambique, where he operated in Buhera and Gutu districts.
His liberation war experience shaped a life devoted to service, discipline and patriotism.
After independence, Cde Chiringa joined the public service. He joined the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in 1982 and rose steadily through the ranks, serving in several key administrative roles across the country.
His work included serving as District Administrator in Makoni, where he spearheaded the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme that benefitted thousands of A1 and A2 farmers.
He also played a critical role in relocating communities displaced by Osborne Dam and later oversaw the relocation of nearly 1 000 families from Chiadzwa to Odzi to pave the way for diamond mining operations.
In August 2015, he was appointed Provincial Administrator for Mashonaland Central, where he helped coordinate major development initiatives, including the Kanyemba Development Project.
At the time of his death, he was serving as Permanent Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution. Cde Chiringa leaves behind his wife Sherry, four children and six grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at No. 32, Victoria Road, Newlands, Harare.
