Liberation hero Mukundu buried

Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
Prominent Rusape war veteran Cde George Mukundu, who died last week and was declared a liberation war hero, was buried on Monday at a funeral attended by hundreds of mourners.

Cde Mukundu, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Democracy Monomutapa, passed on in Harare. He was 58. Cde Mukundu was born on June 20, 1959 in Rusape. He did his secondary education at Tsanzaguru Secondary School, before leaving the country to join the liberation struggle in Mozambique in 1976.

He was stationed at Doroi until 1977 before being sent to Romania for military training in 1978. After training, he acquired a Diploma in Explosive Engineering and was employed by Rusape Town Council under its security department at independence.

At the time of his death, he was operating small businesses in the town. In a speech read on her behalf by Makoni assistant district administrator Mr Darlington Museka at the burial, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Mandi Chimene described Cde Mukundu as a gallant, eminent and luminary son of Zimbabwe, who left an indelible mark in the history of Zimbabwe.

“We should learn to take a leaf from people like Cde Mukundu who distinguished himself as a charismatic leader with a pragmatic hands-on approach to business in general and Government work,” she said.

“He served people very well and his loyalty to the country was second to none. He was a man of impeccable deportment and exercised immense dexterity to tasks he performed. “Cde Mukundu worked for Zanu-PF in various positions. He served as a secretary for security in the District Coordinating Committee (DCC). He also led as secretary of Makoni Old People’s Home, chairman for Small and Medium Enterprises and chairman of Seven Zingondi Resettlement areas. He once served as chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association’s Makoni District chapter.

“The entire Mukundu family should know that the untimely departure of this critical member of the family is not your loss alone, it is also our loss as Makoni District. I hope that you will continue to live by the principles that Cde Mukundu lived for, unity, peace, love, development and freedom for all in Zimbabwe.”

Family spokesperson and brother, Mr Samuel Mukundu, thanked Government and Zanu-PF for giving Cde Mukundu a befitting honour. He described Cde Mukundu as a principled man who did not mince his words as he always spoke his mind without fear or favour.

“We would like to thank Government and our party, Zanu-PF for recognising the contributions made by our brother,” he said. “We have lost a pillar of strength who united family members. George was a straight talker, he never minced his words.”