adminyesterday and will be buried tomorrow morning at Nyakapupu Village in Guruve.
In a statement yesterday, Acting Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs Mr Maxwell Ranga said Government had learnt with shock, the death of Commissioner Chigwida.
Commissioner Chigwida was born on April 1, 1946 in Zimuna Village under Chief Bepura in Guruve.
He was attested into the prison service in 1967 and rose through the ranks from warder to corporal in 1972, sergeant in 1979 and to EPO the same year.
In 1980, he was promoted to deputy director before he became a director in 1984.
He was then promoted and appointed to Commissioner of Prisons in 1995.
Commissioner Chigwida was one of the first black deputy directors of prisons before he became the first black director of prisons.
He won several medals for his good work such as the Service Medal, Prison General Service Medal, Long and Exemplary Service Medal and Independence Medal.
He retired in March 1998.
During his service he was posted from Chikurubi Training Depot to the then Buffalo Range Prison now Chiredzi Prison in 1967. He later worked at Khami and Kwekwe Prisons before he was posted to the national headquarters.
Commissioner Chigwida is survived by his wives Miriam and Florence, 12 children and 18 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at Number 6 Elsworth Road, Belgravia, Harare.
Bongani Ndlovu