adminONE of Zimbabwe’s rising crop of politicians, Cde Willard Zororo Duri died in a car accident on April 18, 1996 near Rusape.
He was returning to Mutare after attending the country’s Independence anniversary celebrations in Harare. The tragedy also claimed the lives of his two daughters.
The accident shocked the whole nation as it left his wife and his other child injured. That Cde Duri could die on the day of the independence he fought for before he could assume the ambassadorial post in Cuba is beyond comprehension.
Born on November 27, 1953 in Nyazura Cde Duri was the fourth child in a family of eight girls and two boys. He attended Rukweza School for his primary education before moving to Hartzell High School for the junior certificate.
His “O” Level results of seven distinctions attained at St Augustine’s Mission in 1971 were a national record. On successful completion of “A” levels, Cde Duri enrolled for a BSC degree at the University of Zimbabwe studying Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. He was heading for a first class degree in civil engineering when in 1975 he and other students walked to Mozambique to join the armed struggle.
On completion of military and political training, Cde Duri was deployed in the Gaza province which stretched from Hwange National Park to Chimanimani — an area known for its harsh semi-arid climatic conditions.
To the south, guerillas were often under threat from Ian Smith’s apartheid ally.
Despite such hardships Gaza Province was turned into a vast war zone with freedom fighters becoming so popular among the peasants prompting the Smith regime to respond by destroying their crops by napalm bombs.
By 1978 Cde Duri had risen to sectorial commander and member of the General
Staff specialising in intelligence. He often worked with ZIPRA forces in identifying enemy targets.
At independence Cde Duri resumed his studies at the University of Zimbabwe graduating in 1984 with a BSc degree in Physics and Computer Science.
He was appointed Head of the Computer Division in the President’s Office later becoming Deputy Director for Technical Services in the same office.
In 1984, Cde Zororo was elected security officer for ZANU (PF)’s Manicaland Province subsequently becoming provincial Chairman from 1989 to 1994.
After the 1990 general elections, he was appointed Non-constituency Member of Parliament. He was also a member of the party’s Central Committee and Deputy Secretary for Security in the Politburo.
Cde Zororo was a member of several social and business organizations including the Rotary Club, Manicaland Chamber of industries and the Industrial Development Corporation. As a parliamentarian he participated at missions that monitored elections in Cambodia, South Africa and Mozambique.
At the time of his death, Cde Duri was survived by his wife Maud and one child. — A Guide To The Heroes Acre.
Online Reporter