Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve in Hwange
LIBERATION war hero Cde Robert Moses Mpofu, elder brother to Zanu-PF Secretary-General Dr Obert Mpofu, was laid to rest yesterday at his homestead on the outskirts of Victoria Falls amid moving tributes to his sacrifice and devotion to the country’s freedom.
He was 78.
Cde Mpofu’s send-off was marked by deep emotion, as mourners reflected on a man whose courage and sacrifices left an indelible mark on Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and post-independence nation-building.
Family, Government and party officials described Cde Mpofu as a selfless patriot whose bravery, resourcefulness and loyalty to the liberation cause inspired many, including his own younger brother, Obert.
Among the mourners were Dr Mpofu, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo, senior Government representatives and Zanu-PF officials.
Dr Mpofu, in an emotional tribute, said his late brother had been the spark behind his own political awakening.
“My brother was not just a family member. He was a recruiter, a motivator and a pillar of the struggle and it was his commitment that inspired me,” he said.
“In fact, he played a central role in recruiting his own brothers. I was the first to cross into Zambia in 1967, following the path he had courageously blazed.”
Dr Mpofu recalled how his sibling used personal resources — even sacrificing his cattle — to feed freedom fighters, while risking his life transporting cadres across dangerous terrain.
“His was a life of extraordinary sacrifice and my own journey in service of this country began with his guidance,” he said.
Minister Moyo, in his graveside eulogy, chronicled Cde Mpofu’s journey from a teenager inspired by the nationalist cause to a trusted ZAPU organiser in Zambia.
“Cde Mpofu was born on 13 October 1945, and at only 16, he crossed into Zambia to join the nationalist movement. He became a vital link for recruits, feeding cadres from his own means and transporting them from Botswana to Zambia under constant threat from the Rhodesian regime,” he said.
This courage saw him rise through Zapu ranks as organising secretary in Zambia, operating near Butoha Hospital, a role that made him a marked man. After independence, he remained committed to public service, working for Victoria Falls Town Council before retirement, and serving until his death as Zanu-PF district political commissar for Nemananga in Hwange East Constituency.
Beyond his political life, Cde Mpofu was the father of former Hwange West legislator Bekithemba Mpofu and former Victoria Falls mayor Sifiso Mpofu.
“Cde Mpofu’s life is a testimony of selfless service. He was not driven by personal gain, but by love for his people and his country. He was a bridge-builder, a unifier and a servant leader,” said Minister Moyo.
