Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira and Joseph Madzimure
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has conferred national hero status on pioneer anaesthesiologist, Professor Herbert Mapfumo Chinyanga, while another liberation struggle stalwart, Major General (Retired) Richard Ruwodo, will be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare today.
Prof Chinyanga (87), a leading light in efforts to set up specialist training for anaesthesia in the country, died in South Africa on July 2 this year where he was getting medical treatment.
The decision to confer Prof Chinyanga with national hero status was announced by Zanu PF Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora who visited the family home in Harare yesterday.
“After considering his contribution to the development of the medical fraternity in Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa and the entire party leadership have conferred national hero status on Prof Chinyanga. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course,” said Dr Mombeshora, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care.
The Chinyanga family described him as a remarkable scholar, leader and visionary whose life was a testament to service, excellence and unwavering integrity.
In 2023, Prof Chinyanga was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Zimbabwe Medical Association for his exceptional contribution to Zimbabwean healthcare.
The award recognised his outstanding teaching and mentoring history spanning over three decades. A medical doctor, scientist and specialist in anaesthesia and intensive care, Prof Chinyanga mentored many junior and senior students in biomedical sciences in several universities, including the University of Ghana, the University of Toronto and the University of Zimbabwe. He had taught at the University of Zimbabwe from 1985 until recently.
Prof Chinyanga dedicated his life to the Zimbabwe Anaesthetic Association and country, leaving a lasting impact on students and colleagues through his teaching, research, and mentorship. He was born on July 26, 1939 in Gweru. His wife died three years ago.
Veteran urologist and specialist surgeon Mr Christopher Samkange said Prof Chinyanga was the prime mover for a structured specialist training for anaesthesia in Zimbabwe.
“Few people recognise his valiant defence of the Diploma in Anaesthesia which was easy to implement and which ensured the delivery of safe anaesthesia away from the cities, especially at district hospital level,” he said.
“I spoke at the Anaesthetic Association farewell lunch for Prof Chinyanga. I repeat my sentiments: Prof Chinyanga was first and foremost a great doctor. A warm human being. A tremendous leader. A mentor who cared without limits.
“He was a great professional, a teacher who has left an indelible legacy in terms of specialists who were developed and grew under his tutelage.”
Prof Chinyanga is survived by a son Farayi and three grandchildren.
In a related matter, President Mnangagwa will today preside over the burial of Maj Gen Ruwodo (72) at the national shrine.
Thousands of people drawn from across the country are expected to throng the National Heroes Acre to bid farewell to the celebrated hero.
In preparation for the burial, Maj-Gen Ruwodo’s remains were airlifted from Charles Gumbo Barracks to Soft Farm in Macheke for a brief ceremony before being flown to Farm 1, Tsonzo ,Watsoma under Chief Mutasa where a provincial send-off ceremony was held.
They were later taken back to Harare to lie in state at his Glen Lorne home before burial today.
Family spokesperson and nephew Mr Owen Ruwodo said: “We are grateful to His Excellency President Mnangagwa for conferring national hero status on our father. We are deeply honoured by this recognition of his contribution to the country’s liberation and development.
“When the Minister of Defence and ZANU PF National Chairperson, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, came to convey the message of his conferment as a national hero on Friday, it was a profound moment for our family. She gave a detailed account of the man he was and the immense contribution he made to the liberation struggle and the nation.”
Meanwhile, the body of national hero Major General (Rtd) Richard Ruwodo was yesterday taken to his rural home in Samushonga Village, Watsomba in Mutasa District to allow his community to bid farewell to the former top soldier ahead of burial today at the National Heroes Acre.
Speaking at the funeral service, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, said the province has lost a gallant and patriotic son of the soil whose accomplished contributions led to him accorded the highest honour in the land by President Mnangagwa.
Minister Mugadza said Major General (Rtd) Ruwodo’s legacy of hardwork, selflessness and bravery is worth emulating as the country is enjoying the fruits of Independence which he and others fought for at tender ages.
The body of Major-General (Rtd) Ruwodo passed through his farm in Macheke for a brief stopover before heading to Mutasa.
“Major-General (Rtd) Ruwodo is a heroic son of Manicaland, a history maker, a true son of the soil, a gallant liberation fighter, a distinguished military officer and above all a patriot of the highest order.
“He was a wonderful blessing not only to this community, but to Mutasa District, Manicaland Province and our nation at large. We are not merely mourning, but celebrating a life well spent in the selfless service of Zimbabwe. We are honouring a man whose footprints in the annals of our history shall never be erased.
“We celebrate a man who left the comfort of employment at Bata Shoe Company in 1975 to answer the highest calling any citizen can answer, the call to liberate his motherland Zimbabwe. As Manicaland Province, we would like to thank President Mnangagwa for conferring the honour of National Hero on our gallant, illustrious, devoted and nationalist son.
“Like many Zimbabwean youths of his generation, he was deprived of fundamental rights, opportunities and dignity. Yet rather than submit to injustice, he embraced the noble cause of liberation, demonstrating from an early age the courage, patriotism and unwavering resolve that would define his contributions to Zimbabwe’s Independence. His life stands as a testament to the resilience of a people determined to reclaim their freedom and shape their destiny,” said Minister Mugadza.
Family spokesperson and brother Mr Lovemore Ruwodo said they have lost a pillar of strength who always advocated for unity and cohesion in the family.
“The family has been robbed of unifier and we are devastated. My brother always preached family unity and each time there were challenges he would assist to solve them. He was humble and down to earth person who respected every person despite his high position in army,” said Mr Ruwodo.
The funeral service was also attended by the Manicaland ZANU PF Chairman Cde Tawanda Mukodza, Chief Mutasa, relatives and community members.
During the liberation struggle, Maj-Gen Ruwodo was known by the nom de guerre Moshe Pwititi.
Born on March 14, 1954, in Samushonga village under Headman Munhama in Chief Mutasa’s area, Mutare district, Manicaland, Maj-Gen (Retd) Ruwodo attended Mutasa Primary School before completing his secondary education at Highfield Secondary School in Harare between 1969 and 1972.
He joined Bata Shoe Company in 1973 as a salesman and later rose to the position of relief manager before answering the call to join the liberation struggle in 1975.
The national hero was among the third group of ZANLA cadres to receive military training in Mozambique at Chimoio alongside Colonel (Rtd) Shaw Matemachani and the late ambassador and journalist Thomas Bvuma.
After Independence, he joined the Zimbabwe National Army being commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1981, Lieutenant Colonel in 1982, Colonel in 1984, Brigadier-General in 1988 and Major-General upon retirement in 2008.
After retiring from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Maj-Gen (Rtd) Ruwodo was appointed Principal Director for War Veterans in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs.
Beyond his military career, the national hero was a devoted family man, respected community leader and philanthropist who supported fellow war veterans and dependents of fallen comrades.
Maj-Gen (Retd) Ruwodo is survived by his wife Loise, three children — Tatenda Ashleigh, Thabiso Lisa and Tinodiwa — and four grandchildren.
