Cde Cosmas Chiringa declared a national hero

A VETERAN of the liberation struggle who was also permanent secretary for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Cosmas Chiringa, has been declared a national hero.

Cde Chiringa died of heart failure on Monday at Westend Hospital. He was born on December 10, 1960.
Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan province, Cde Charles Tawengwa, announced the hero’s status at Cde Chiringa’s house in Harare last night.

“After consultations with his Politburo members, President Mnangagwa, who is the First Secretary of the party, has conferred a national hero’s status to the late Cde Chiringa,” said Minister Tawengwa.

He was a distinguished civil servant and national builder.

Minister Tawengwa said Cde Chiringa was a committed son of the soil who contributed immensely to the liberation of Zimbabwe.

“He was a seasoned Public Administrator, Servant of the people of Zimbabwe.

“He dedicated his life during the struggle for independence, post-independence and the public service,” said Minister Tawengwa.

Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman, Cde Godwills Masimirembwa, who accompanied Minister Tawengwa to the Chiringa family, described the late national hero as a committed servant of the people.

“He organised Government programmes in Harare. He relayed messages to us, the party, about Government programmes. We have lost a dedicated cadre who was committed to the development of the country,” said Cde Masimirembwa.

Cde Chiringa’s close friend and Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Economic Affairs, Cde Andy Mhlanga said that they trained together in Mozambique.

“We were together in Mozambique during the liberation struggle. We operated in different provinces, but we met soon after independence,” he said.

Cde Mhlanga said the late national hero was up to the task in Harare.
“He championed a number of developmental programmes in Harare,” he said.

Cde Mhlanga said the late Cde Chiringa was a humble, results-oriented person who was dedicated to his work.

Cde Chiringa’s daughter, Kudakwashe, commended President Mnangagwa and the entire party leadership for honouring her father.

“We greatly appreciated the conferment of the status on our father. We are very happy as a family to realise the role played by our father towards the development of Zimbabwe,” she said.

Cde Chiringa, who is survived by wife, four children and six grandchildren, was born on December 10, 1960.

Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.

Mourners are gathered at No 32, Victoria Road, Newlands, Harare.