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Those who worked with Cde Nyashanu, who died at 84 years, say he was a dedicated nationalist who wanted the country to prosper in every aspect.
Cde Nyashanu will be buried today at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare.
The two most critical areas where Cde Nyashanu contributed were national unity and education.
Zanu-PF secretary for education Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said Cde Nyashanu deserved to be a national hero because of the work he did for the nation.
Dr Ndlovu, who was detained by the illegal Ian Smith regime at Gonakudzingwa alongside the former Buhera North legislator, said Cde Nyashanu was committed to the country’s education and social development.
He said the country had lost a dedicated cadre who was humble.
“We have lost a committed cadre who worked tirelessly for the country’s independence and educational development even before independence,” said Dr Ndlovu.
He said Cde Nyashanu’s legacy should be protected.
“The man was fearless and hardworking and both the young and old should emulate him. He never fought for any position in the party like what most people do,” he said.
Cde Ndlovu described Cde Nyashanu’s death as a sad loss to the country.
“I have known him for over 40 years and we were at one point detained together at Gonakudzingwa. The man was an educationist par excellence,” he said.
“We established the Gonakudzingwa Educational Programme together in 1963 and he was my deputy secretary. His concern for education was immense.”
Cde Nyashanu helped establish community schools in the 1960s alongside the late national hero, Cde Josiah Chinamano.
In his condolence message to the Nyashanu family, Vice-President Cde John Nkomo said Cde Nyashanu played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle by recruiting cadres to go to Mozambique and Zambia.
He said they were together with Cde Nyashanu in the struggle to free the country from colonial bondage.
Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said Cde Nyashanu was a brave freedom fighter, a nationalist of impeccable credentials and a man of purpose.
“I worked with him for many years and he was a political weathercock,” he said.
Cde Moyo said the party had lost a seasoned leader, while the country had been robbed of one of its most faithful servants.
War veterans leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda said Cde Nyashanu was a diligent liberation fighter.
“He diligently and successfully performed his duties as a nationalist and freedom fighter,” he said.
“The history of the liberation struggle cannot be complete if the roles played by heroes such as Cde Nyashanu are not mentioned.”
Cde Nyashanu was born on January 1, 1926, in Mukanga Village, Buhera, and attended St Faith’s Mudoti and Dadaya mission schools for his primary and secondary education.
He also attained various degrees in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Cde Nyashanu joined politics in the 1950s and became a member of the African National Congress in 1957 before it was banned.
He received military training in the Soviet Union and later returned home where he trained youth in urban guerrilla warfare.
He was at one point restricted to a 19km radius of Harare by the Ian Smith regime and in 1966 was jailed for four months.
Cde Nyashanu was PF-Zapu deputy secretary- general before the signing of the Unity Accord in 1987.
He was appointed into the National Consultative Assembly of the united Zanu-PF in 1988.
Cde Nyashanu was entrusted with further responsibilities when he was elected as the legislator for Buhera North between 1990 and 1997.
At the time of his death, he was a member of the Central Committee of Zanu-PF and a non-executive director of the Small Enterprises Development Corporation (Sedco).
He is survived by his wife Shamiso, eight children and 24 grandchildren. -The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter