Hero Chirenda burial today

Chronicle Reporters
VETERAN freedom fighter and senior army officer, Retired Colonel Harold Mtandwa Chirenda’s body was flown from Bulawayo to Harare yesterday afternoon ahead of his burial at the National Heroes Acre today.
Rtd Col Chirenda, whose pseudonym during the liberation struggle was Elliot Masengo, died at the United Bulawayo Hospitals on Wednesday last week at the age of 69.

Close family members, senior government officials, Zanu-PF Politburo members and senior army officials saw off Rtd Col Chirenda’s body at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport. It was taken to Harare aboard an Air Force of Zimbabwe plane accompanied by his family, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo and Bulawayo Senator Angeline Masuku.
His body arrived at Manyame Airbase in Harare late in the afternoon.

A military parade for the late national hero was held at Imbizo Barracks on Tuesday. Hundreds of people including Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander Lieutenant General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, senior government officials, Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and army officials attended it.

Politicians who worked with him during the struggle and after described Rtd Col Chirenda as a true hero, a brave nationalist icon who sacrificed a lot to see Zimbabwe independent.

Zanu-PF leaders in Matabeleland region yesterday spoke highly of the late Cde Chirenda, describing him as a true liberator who sacrificed his entire life to the total independence of Zimbabwe.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North, Cde Cain Mathema described the late national hero as a very humble man who was dedicated to liberating the country from colonialism. He said he was one of the first volunteers to join the struggle.
“He joined the liberation struggle at a very young age when most us were not even aware of what the liberation war was all about.

“He was a selfless and non-tribalistic person who was dedicated to the total emancipation of the people of Zimbabwe, which is why he was accorded a national hero status for his contributions to the liberation struggle.

“Cde Chirenda underwent training with the likes of Cde Nikita Mangena in Algeria. His death is great loss to his family, Zanu-PF and the country at large,” said Cde Mathema.

Cde Obert Mpofu, Zanu-PF Politburo Secretary for Economic Affairs, said the late Cde Chirenda was a fearless fighter and gallant son of the soil who spearheaded the campaign against colonial oppression.

“I am actually one of the people who went through his hands in military training under Zipra. He was a fine instructor who produced one of the best cadres in the liberation struggle such as the late Zimbabwe National Army Commander General Solomon Mujuru and other senior officials in government.

“He was a consistent and persistent fighter for justice, which saw him join the liberation struggle to free Zimbabweans from oppression. He was one of the people who pioneered the Zipra military camp in Morogoro in Tanzania,” said Cde Mpofu.

Zanu-PF Politburo member, Cde Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu spoke highly of the late nationalist, saying he sacrificed his entire life for a worthy cause. He said he first met Cde Chirenda in 1977 in Zambia.

“Cde Chirenda was a person worthy to be trusted and he gave his life to the liberation of the country as well as the development of Zimbabwe. He was one of the various guerilla camp commanders in Zambia,” he said.

The body was received at Manyame Airbase by Zanu-PF Politburo members Cdes Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and Absolom Sikhosana, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Melusi Matshiya, and senior military officers who included Major-Generals Trust Mugoba and Nicholas Dube.
The body was taken to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Parlour at One Commando Barracks where a memorial service was held.

Matshiya said the body would be taken to Stodart Hall in Mbare this morning.
“The body will lie here today (yesterday) and then it will be taken to Stodart Hall in Mbare as per tradition at 7am tomorrow,” he said.
Matshiya said Acting President Joice Mujuru, Government officials, members of the public and the family would view the body at Stodart Hall after which it would be taken to its final resting place at the National Heroes Acre.

Transport will be provided for mourners wishing to attend the burial at the usual pick-up points in the capital. Government also provided transport and accommodation for mourners who came from Bulawayo.

Acting President Mujuru will address mourners at the National Heroes Acre.
Rtd Col Chirenda was born on August 1, 1944, in Harare and attended Shingirai Primary School from 1950 to 1956 where he did Standard One to Six before going to Fletcher High School for his secondary education.

He was one of the 90 cadres from the pioneer Zipra cadres who attended basic military training in Algeria from 1964 to 1965.
After training, he was deployed to Tanzania where he worked with other senior Zapu cadres who included Cde Albert Nxele, the late Lookout Masuku and Rtd Brig-Gen Mutinhiri.

In 1966, Rtd Col Chirenda, together with the late Zipra commander Cde Nikita Mangena, Tapson Sibanda and Brig Gen Mutinhiri were deployed to Morogoro as instructors under the command of Cde Nxele.

At Morogoro, he trained groups which had people like Cde Mpofu, the late Major General Jevan Maseko, the late General Mujuru and Rtd Brig-Gen Abel Mazinyane.

At independence, Rtd Col Chirenda was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army where he held several positions such as chief instructor at the Zimbabwe Military Academy.

He was also responsible in the integration of Zanla, Zipra and the Rhodesian Security Forces officers.  In 1982 he was appointed head of operations at army headquarters at KG 6 Barracks.

Rtd Col Chirenda was the author of the operational order called the “Sledgehammer”, which marked the beginning of the involvement of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in the Mozambique campaign in 1982.

In 1983, he became the first Zimbabwe Defence Forces Chief delegate to the International Military Sports Council (CISM).
Rtd Col Chirenda successfully lobbied for admission of the ZDF into the world military sports body the same year in Lagos, Nigeria.

He was a founder member of Black Rhinos football club in 1983 when the team joined the Zimbabwe Football Association Division One before being promoted to the then super league the following year.

In 1986, Rtd Col Chirenda was appointed commanding officer 43 Infantry Battalion and during his tour of duty with the battalion he took part in operation Chipoko, a joint operation by 43 Battalion, 1 CDO and Para BN which dealt a major blow to Renamo’s fighting capability south of the Beira corridor in the area of Espungabeira.

In 1990, Rtd Col Chirenda was posted to and attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Zimbabwe’s advisor to the Republic of Botswana where his areas of responsibility included Angola and Namibia.

He served in this capacity until April 1994 when he returned home to assume other responsibilities in the ZNA. He retired from the army in 1995.

During his time in the army Rtd Col Chirenda scooped several medals, which included Independence Medal, Silver Liberation Medal, 15 years service, and Exemplary Service Medal and Mozambique Campaign Medal.

Rtd Lt-Col Chirenda is survived by his wife, nine children and 18 grandchildren.