Vusumuzi Dube
Sunday News Reporter
MAJOR General (Rtd) Solomon Siziba who died in Harare on Wednesday has been declared a national hero.
The announcement of his national hero status was made by Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube today (Friday) who also delivered President Mnangagwa’s condolence message.
Maj-Gen (Rtd) Siziba will be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare at a date to be announced.
The senior army officer died at Josiah Magama Tongogara Camp Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
He was 67.
Mourners are gathered at his house Number 572 Bulawayo Drive, Killarney in Bulawayo. Among the mourners was Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Dr Evelyn Ndlovu.
Announcing his death in a statement, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) deputy director public relations, Lieutenant Colonel Tichafa Mungofa said:
“It is with a heavy heart that the Zimbabwe National Army announces the passing on of Major-General (Retired) Solomon Siziba this morning (Wednesday) at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks Camp Hospital in Harare.”
Former Information, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Cde Chenhamo “Chen” Chakezha Chimutengwende who died yesterday has also been declared a national hero.
He was 81.
Cde Chimutengwende died at around 5pm.
His son, Mr Tawanda Chimutengwende, confirmed the death last night. He said his father had chronic kidney disease.
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
Born on August 28 1943, Cde Chimutengwende first became a Zanu PF Member of Parliament in 1985 in Mazowe and would be a legislator for over 25 years.
He also served for 14 years as a Cabinet minister.
Cde Chimutengwende served as Senator and Deputy President of the Senate, Member of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and Head of the Zimbabwe delegation to the PAP.
He earned a Master’s degree in Social Science and a PhD from the University of Bradford in the UK.
Bongani Ndlovu