adminNqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
TWO ex-political detainees Cde Benjamin Mtshayisa and Mr Norman Mabhena have died.
Cde Mtshayisa (88) died at his home in Nguboyenja suburb in Bulawayo last Friday while Mr Mabhena (76) succumbed to a stroke at about 3AM yesterday at Mpilo Central Hospital.
Cde Mtshayisa will be buried today at Lady Stanley Cemetery while Mr Mabhena is expected to be buried on Saturday, but the place of burial is yet to be decided.
Zanu-PF secretary for the Disabled and Vulnerable, Cde Joshua Malinga, said the duo deserved liberation war hero status.
He said he knew Cde Mtshayisa when he was still a student at Jairos Jiri Centre in the 1960s.
Cde Mtshayisa was detained at Whawha and Connemara prisons for his political activism during the liberation struggle.
“I’ve known him (Mtshayisa) since 1966. He was one of my mentors at Jairos Jiri where he was involved in charity work.
“They were in the same group with Mabhena who was in Zapu’s Central Committee.
“They both deserve to be declared liberation war heroes,” Cde Malinga said.
Cde Mtshayisa’s son, Mr Mdingi Mtshayisa, said his father succumbed to injuries suffered during the liberation struggle.
“His liberation war contributions saw him being injured on his back bone. This affected him leading to him being partially disabled and his death was related to the backbone injuries he sustained,” said Mdingi.
Cde Mtshayisa is survived by 11 children, 44 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at number 286 Nguboyenja suburb.
Mr Mabhena’s brother, Mr Timon Mabhena, said Norman was detained at Gonakudzingwa and Wha-Wha for his political involvement.
“He was an excellent elder; very calm and soft. This is why most politicians would visit him to seek guidance,” he said.
Timon said Mr Mabhena crossed the political divide and was at one time the MDC-T council of elders’ chairman.
At the time of his death, he was a member of the opposition party’s council.
MDC-T Bulawayo’s provincial chairman Mr Gift Banda described Mr Mabhena’s death as a loss to the party as he was a unifier who worked to bring members together.
Mourners are gathered at number 8 Bedford road, Hillcrest.
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