Kwekwe mourns its beloved Brigadier

Prisca Manyiwa-Masuku

THE Kwekwe community has bade farewell to its fatherly figure,  environmental conservationist, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Benjamin Mabenge.

He died in Harare on Monday and was declared a national hero.

Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mabenge was a well-known environmental conservationist in Kwekwe, who would not allow people to tamper with the natural habitat around his farm in Woodlands. Speaking on the sidelines of a memorial service for Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mabenge at his farm, Councillor for Ward 11, Joshua Tinago, said the entire city had been plunged into mourning.

“We had a good relationship with Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mabenge. 

“He was someone who socialised with nearly everyone. He was open to sharing ideas.  He was my mentor as a Councillor in this ward, so we have lost a good man. He contributed a lot to this ward and he did not tolerate someone who just entered this territory to fetch firewood, without his approval.

“He was totally against the cutting down of trees.” The late Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mabenge’s son, Saviour, described the death of his father as a big loss to the family.

“I was still learning a lot from him but, above all, I want to celebrate his life, which was well lived,” he said.

“I am an environmentalist and my father taught me that I should not allow the cutting down of trees and destruction of the natural environment.  My dad was a man of discipline.  I read in some articles that even during the liberation struggle, he was well-known for that.”

Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mabenge will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre today.