Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka-Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE remains of nationalist, historian and veteran journalist Cde Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu were yesterday exhumed from Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo ahead of reburial at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Thursday, as his family paid tribute to the Second Republic.
President Mnangagwa recently conferred national hero status on Cde Gwakuba Ndlovu posthumously ahead of the 2026 Heroes Day commemorations.
He died in 2021.
Speaking during the emotional exhumation ceremony, family members said the decision to declare him a national hero had brought pride and closure, acknowledging a lifetime dedicated to the country’s freedom, historical documentation and national development.
The national hero’s widow, Mrs Caroline Gwakuba Ndlovu, said: “We are deeply grateful to the nation and to our President for the steps that have been taken to honour my husband. On behalf of the family and the people of Matabeleland, we sincerely thank the Government for recognising our comrade and taking him to the National Heroes Acre.”
Mrs Gwakuba Ndlovu said although the family had hoped for such recognition when Cde Gwakuba Ndlovu died in 2021, circumstances brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible.
His daughter Ms Chipo Gwakuba Ndlovu described the conferment of national hero status as a source of pride not only for the family, but also for Bulawayo and the Matabeleland region.
She said Cde Gwakuba Ndlovu played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle as one of the pioneers of Zapu alongside the late Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
ZANU PF Politburo member and Bulawayo Senator Cde Molly Mpofu said:
“As a Politburo member representing Bulawayo Province, I can confidently say the province is delighted and grateful to President Mnangagwa for this honour bestowed upon Cde Gwakuba.
“The family has also appealed for the preservation of his grave at Lady Stanley Cemetery. They will engage the Bulawayo City Council and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works because they wish the site to remain under the family’s care.”
Besides Cde Gwakuba Ndlovu, other liberation stalwarts whose remains will also be re-interred at the National Heroes Acre are Brigadier-General Gibbs Kachana, whose remains are being exhumed from Mutikani Village in Shindi District; Cde Herbert Zaba Sambo, buried in the Moshowani area of Madziva District and Prof Sheunesu Mpepereki, whose remains will be exhumed from Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare.
Cde Gwakuba Ndlovu died on July 16, 2021, at the United Bulawayo Hospitals after succumbing to a heart ailment.
He was born on September 23, 1934, at Dombodema Mission in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South province.
During the liberation struggle, Cde Gwakuba Ndlovu was the director of publicity and information for Zapu between 1964 and 1978.
He once served as the diplomatic representative for Zapu based in Algeria, responsible for Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger and Mali.
He also covered countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany.
After independence, Cde Ndlovu joined the Chronicle as a senior editorial staff member. The late journalist left the publication to join the Munn Publishing Company, leaving in 1987 after he was offered a post by Lonrho Zimbabwe as a public relations executive.
Lonrho Zimbabwe later sent him to Swaziland in January 1988, where he worked at The Swazi Observer.
