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Chronicle Reporter
CONSULTATIONS on the hero status of the late freedom fighter and retired Zimbabwe National Army senior officer, Retired Colonel Herald Mtandwa Chirenda, are on-going, with the outcome likely to be announced today.Rtd Col Chirenda, whose war name was Elliot Masendu, died on Wednesday at the age of 69 at the United Bulawayo Hospitals after a long illness.
Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, who is also the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo, said yesterday: “Consultations are ongoing, people are busy consulting and may be by late afternoon tomorrow we might know what the outcome will be.
“The consultations are being handled by Cde Mutasa’s (Zanu-PF secretary for administration) office, thus I wouldn’t know when exactly the decision will be made.”
Contacted for comment, Cde Mutasa said the Politburo was yet to sit for consultations regarding Rtd Col Chirenda’s hero status.
“Today is a Sunday, do you expect us to have sat down and deliberated on that issue? Why are you in a hurry to write the story? As the Politburo, we are still waiting for a directive to sit down and come up with a decision from vakuru (elders).”
Rtd Col Chirenda’s daughter Louisa yesterday said the family was still waiting for a decision from the Zanu-PF Politburo. Meanwhile, Bulawayo Province has made recommendations on the honour to be bestowed on Rtd Col Chirenda who was part of Zipra when it was known as the special force.
However, it could not be established whether the province had recommended national hero status for the former Zipra director of training.
Rtd Col Chirenda went for military training in Algeria and he held positions such as deputy personnel chief during the armed struggle.
He was one of the first Zipra military trainers at Morogoro Camp, which was opened in 1968.
The late freedom fighter was in the Zipra high command together with the late General Lookout Masuku and Rtd Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri among other directors
At independence, the late freedom fighter was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army and served until he retired in 1995.
Mourners are gathered at Number 22 Briton Road, Paddonhurst in Bulawayo.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter