Hero Mphoko burial today

Robin Muchetu , Senior Reporter 

THE late former Vice-President, Cde Phelekezela Report Mphoko, will be buried today at his Douglasdale plot in Umguza District, Matabeleland North Province.

Cde Mphoko died in India last week where he had been receiving treatment.

President Mnangagwa conferred National Hero status to the former Vice-President in recognition of his contributions before and after independence.

The family, however, requested that he be buried at his Douglasdale plot, as per his last wishes.

Family spokesperson Mr Ndabezinhle Mphoko said all was in order for the burial of the National Hero, with the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland North Province, Cde Richard Moyo set to preside over it.

“All is set for the burial tomorrow and we have managed to come this far, to bring him (Cde Mphoko) home. We are ready for the burial and everything is in order. We have taken all the necessary steps,” said Mr Mphoko. 

“The Ministry of Home Affairs is doing the programme itself. I will come in as the family spokesperson and talk about his early life. I will leave the rest of his interaction with the Government, his history in the war of liberation of Zimbabwe to the President or his representative.”

He said the slab for the grave floor had been dug by Saturday (yesterday) evening and the road leading to the grave site had been spruced up in preparation of the burial.

Mr Mphoko expressed his gratitude to the Government and the President for the assistance rendered to the family during the period of mourning.

The burial programme is expected to start at 8am and the Mphoko family said it was open to everybody to attend.

The body of the late VP was brought to his Douglasdale home yesterday evening where it lay in state ahead of burial today.

Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo and Matabeleland South Judith Ncube and Dr Evelyn Ndebele and other Government officials were at the residence to receive the body of the late VP.

Cde Mphoko was born on 11 June 1940 in Gwizane, Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province. He attended David Livingstone Memorial School in Ntabazinduna  and Mzilikazi High School before studying at the Tsholotsho Agricultural Breeding and Experimental School.

His passion for agriculture saw him pursue advanced courses in semen collection, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer at Austria’s Institute of Genetics from 1996 to 1999. 

He furthered his studies in Agricultural Farming Finance at the University of Natural Science in the Free State, South Africa.

Cde Mphoko’s political activism began early, and he was arrested in 1963 for what the colonial regime termed political violence. 

He later received military training in the then Soviet Union and played a crucial role in the armed struggle.

He served in several capacities in Government after independence, including as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to several countries and as Vice-President from December 2014 until November 2017.

Cde Mphoko is survived by his wife, Luaurinda, three children — daughters Sikhumbuzo and Siduduzo, and a son, Siqokoqela — and three grandchildren. — @NyembeziMu