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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
LIBERATION war hero, Cde Raphael Baleni, who died in Bulawayo last Saturday will be buried today at the Nkulumane Provincial Heroes’ Acre.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo spokesperson Cde Christopher Sibanda said a funeral service would be held at the Methodist church in Paddonhurst at 8AM, before burial.
Yesterday, Zanu-PF national spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo sent a condolence message to Cde Baleni’s family.
He described Cde Baleni as an exemplary mentor and a stalwart of the liberation struggle.
“On my return from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia I was devastated to learn that Cde Baleni Njombe was no more. He was an unassuming revolutionary, a stalwart of the liberation struggle, a man of conviction, principle and purpose,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
“His demise has robbed his family of an exemplary mentor while the country has lost a leader of impeccable war credentials and mankind is poorer by his absence,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
“He strongly believed that it was better to be poor than to be a liar. He has indeed left us a rich legacy of integrity and accountability. He led from the front. Go well Njombe. We’ll miss you.”
Cde Baleni did his primary education at Mayobhodo Primary and Secondary Schools at Empandeni.
He started off as a youth member of the National Democratic Party (NDP). After the NDP was banned he joined Zapu at its formation in 1962. He joined the liberation struggle in 1973 in Zambia and was sent for military training in the former Soviet Union.
He also trained as a political commissar in that country. Cde Baleni was among the Zipra commanders who went to Chimoio to unite with Zanla forces under the banner of the Zimbabwe People’s Army (Zipa).
After the union of the two armies, he was appointed deputy commander at Mgagao.
Following the demise of Zipa, Cde Baleni went back to Zambia and was appointed commissar at Nambunduwe Camp.
In 1978 Cde Baleni was posted to Ethiopia as Zapu’s chief representative, a position he held until 1980. From 1981 to 1982, Cde Baleni was the director of workers’ education at the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU).
In 1982, he joined the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare as a labour relations officer until 1987 when he joined the National Employment Council (NEC) for the motor industry as designate agent, a position he held until 2005.
In his political life Cde Baleni was elected a district commissar for Ward 3 in Bulawayo Province and the following year he was elected the deputy provincial commissar for Bulawayo Province. In 1993, he was elected Bulawayo provincial commissar and provincial chairman for war veterans.
Two years later, he was elected into the national executive of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association as the secretary for information and publicity until 1997. In 2003, he was co-opted into the province as the interim provincial commissar.
Cde Baleni was elected provincial commissar in 2005 before he became a Central Committee member in 2008, a position he held until 2013.
He was a member of the Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly until his death.
Cde Baleni was married to the late Matilda Mphikashi Ndondo and is survived by three children and 17 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at Number 6 Dublin Place, Queens Park East.
Online Reporter