Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve in Hwange
THE late liberation war hero Cde Robert Moses Mpofu, whose personal resources and unwavering bravery helped recruit and sustain countless freedom fighters — including his younger brother, the current ZANU PF Secretary General Dr Obert Mpofu — was granted a solemn and emotional burial at his homestead on the outskirts of Victoria Falls on Monday.
Cde Mpofu was 78 years old at the time of his passing.
He was described as a selfless, gallant son of the soil whose life was a testament to dedication and service to Zimbabwe.
The burial service was graced by senior Government officials and party members, including the ZANU PF Secretary General Cde Obert Moses Mpofu, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North, Richard Moyo, and members of the Hwange community who gathered to pay their last respects.
Cde Obert Mpofu laid bare the profound personal debt he and the nation owed to his elder brother. He revealed that Cde Robert Mpofu was the architect of his own political awakening and journey into the liberation struggle.
“My brother was not just a family member; he was a recruiter, a motivator, and a pillar of the struggle. It was his commitment that inspired me. In fact, he played a central role in recruiting his own brothers, and I was the first to cross into Zambia in 1967, following the path he had courageously blazed.
“He used his own means, his cattle, to feed freedom fighters and risked his life countless times transporting cadres. His was a life of extraordinary sacrifice, and my own journey in service of this country began with his guidance,” he said.
The legacy of service within the Mpofu family is remarkable. Beyond shaping a national leader like Cde Obert, Robert Mpofu was the father of two sons who also took up the mantle of public service: one who served as Member of Parliament for Hwange West (Bekithemba Mpofu) and another as Mayor of the City of Victoria Falls (Sifiso Mpofu), underscoring a family deeply entrenched in the development and politics of post-independent Zimbabwe.
Delivering his official remarks on behalf of the Government and the province, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North, Richard Moyo, chronicled the illustrious life of the departed hero.
“We gather here today with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true son of the soil, a gallant fighter, a selfless leader, and a dedicated cadre of our liberation struggle — Cde Robert Moses Mpofu,” said Minister Moyo.
He detailed how Cde Mpofu’s journey of sacrifice started at a remarkably young age.
“Cde Mpofu was born on the 13th of October, 1945, and from a tender age, he showed a rare commitment to the ideals of justice, freedom, and self-determination. In 1961, at only 16 years old, he crossed over to Zambia to join the nationalist movement. From there, he became a vital link in assisting those who sought to join the struggle for independence.
“He used his own resources, including his cattle, to feed freedom fighters. He bravely transported cadres from Botswana to Zambia, often at great personal risk,” he said.
This bravery saw him rise through the ranks of ZAPU, where he was elected Organising Secretary in Zambia, operating near Butoha Hospital — a role that made him a target of the Rhodesian regime.
Despite the dangers, Cde Mpofu never wavered.
After independence, he continued to serve, working for the Victoria Falls Town Council until retirement and remaining a loyal political cadre.
At the time of his death, he was the District Political Commissar for Nemananga District in Hwange East Constituency.
