Early war stalwart Chirinda declared national hero

Harare Bureau

THE Zanu PF Politburo has conferred national hero status on Cde Jaison William Chezhira Chakaipa Chirinda, who was one of the early cadres to receive military training before waging the liberation struggle.

An Extraordinary Zanu PF Politburo meeting chaired by President Mnangagwa, who is also the ruling party’s First Secretary, was convened in Harare yesterday to deliberate on the hero status of Cde Chirinda.

Cde Chirinda(82) died on October 27, 2024 owing to diabetic-related complications and Zanu PF Mashonaland Central Province submitted a request that he be conferred with the highest honour owing to his illustrious exploits during the liberation struggle.

He was one of the decorated military cadres who were involved in the first military operation against the Rhodesian forces in the Sinoia area, now Chinhoyi, where he led one of the two groups deployed for an offensive against the Rhodesians.

Cde Chirinda was later arrested and served time in prison together with President Mnangagwa, who was serving a life term for his role in fighting the Ian Smith regime.

During yesterday’s Extraordinary Politburo meeting, President Mnangagwa said the indaba was convened to consider Cde Chirinda’s hero status.

He directed Zanu PF Acting Secretary-General, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, to read out a letter from the party’s Mashonaland Central Province recommending the conferment of national hero status on Cde Chirinda.

Briefing journalists after the Politburo meeting, Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, said there was

unanimity among Politburo members on the need to confer the highest honour on Cde Chirinda.

He said Zanu PF national chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, was tasked with conveying the message to the family of Cde Chirinda in Madziva, Mashonaland Central Province, last night.

Cde Mutsvangwa said the burial date had tentatively been set for Monday next week.

“We have concluded our Extraordinary Politburo meeting. I am happy to announce that there was a unanimous decision to confer one of the early heroes with national hero status. It had to be an extraordinary meeting because of the gravity and loftiness of the person,” he said.

Cde Mutsvangwa said Cde Chirinda was one of the early cadres with political consciousness who realised that Zimbabweans lost their land to whites around 1890 due to the Rhodesians’  military prowess and that land had to be reclaimed through military means.

He said Cde Chirinda was one of the early cadres that included President Mnangagwa, who took up military training in countries such as Ghana, Egypt, Russia, China among others.

“There were the first group of recruits to be trained. That time you would never think that you could take a fight to the whites. The major highlight was the battle at Chinhoyi. It required vision and sacrifice. These young people showed that they could restore African virility. These were the hallmark of the future Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” Cde Mutsvangwa said.

He chronicled how young people like Cde Chirinda took up arms to fight the Ian Smith regime, abandoning their studies.

“If you look at school registers in the 1970s, they got empty as people went to join the struggle. So it was important for the President to call for an extraordinary Politburo meeting to jog the minds of young people,” Cde Mutsvangwa said.

He said the Politburo noted that there was a need to archive the milestones recorded during the liberation struggle.

Cde Chirinda was born on 1 September 1942 in Gora, Madziva, Mashonaland Central Province, where he lived with his family during his early years.

He did his primary education at Madziva Gora Primary School and his secondary education at Chifubu Secondary School in Ndola, Zambia where he had gone to live with his elder sister Mai Dzambo.

Cde Chirinda joined the liberation struggle in 1965 and went to Tanzania for military training at Three Leaves Brigade and later went to China for further military training. When he returned from China, he and others were tasked with what became the first military operations against the Rhodesian forces in Chinhoyi.

Cde Chirinda led one of the two groups deployed in Sinoia to fight the Rhodesian Forces, the other group was led by the late Cde Chatambudza. Together they formed part of the celebrated legendary group of Seven Heroes who perished at Sinioa Battle that ignited the Second Chimurenga which led to Zimbabwe’s Independence 14 years later.

Cde Chirinda’s group of eight had amongst them the late Zanla Commander Josiah Magama Tongogara who had returned to Zambia when the battle commenced.

Cde Chirinda was unfortunately arrested after the Chinhoyi encounter and was initially sentenced to death. The death penalty was then later commuted to life in prison.

He served in prison together with renowned revolutionaries like President Mnangangwa, Cde William Ndangana among others.

He served at Khami Prison in Bulawayo until he was released.

Cde Chirinda is survived by his wife Monia Muchenje, six children — Shungu, Gladmore, Ignatious, Jerina, Letwin, Reason and 19 grandchildren.