adminHerald Reporter
Liberation war hero Cde Robert Machisa who died last Friday was yesterday buried at the Harare Provincial Heroes’ Acre. Cde Machisa, who had retired from the Zimbabwe National Army, left behind a wife and two sons. He died at Parirenyatwa Hospital after a short illness. Speaking at the burial yesterday, Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Cde Miriam Chikukwa said the province had lost a dedicated cadre who played a significant role in liberating the nation.
“It is a great loss to the province and the nation at large. He was one of the few fighters who dedicated the greater part of their lives protecting the nation in the army. He served the army until last year when he retired.
“Before he rested much, he passed away,” said Minister Chikukwa. Minister Chikukwa bemoaned the rate at which her province was losing heroes saying it created gaps that would be difficult to fill.
“This month we have lost three heroes.
“Last week we were here again to bury Cde Muchenje. The more we lose people like these the more we suffer as a province and a nation,” she said.
Cde Willard Machipanda, who grew up and went to war with the late Cde Machisa, described him as a true hero, who was determined to free his country.
“We left Buhera for Mozambique when we were teenagers and we camped at Doroi. We also went together to Romania for military training before we went back to Buhera, Chivi where we operated as fighters from 1978 to 1979,” said Cde Machipanda.
A brother to the late hero Mr Never Machisa described his brother as a unifier.
“My brother was a unifier who played a great role to bring the family members and other relatives together,” he said.
Cde Machisa was born in 1960 in Marondera and did his primary education at Dangare Primary School in Mutare. For secondary education, he went to Ellis Gledhill in Mutare before leaving the country to join the liberation struggle.
After independence, he joined the Zimbabwe national Army and served until his retirement last year.
Online Reporter