Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika, [email protected]
MANICALAND Province yesterday bade farewell to national hero Cde Cosmas Chiringa, who was Harare Metropolitan Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
Cde Chiringa (67) died of heart failure at West End Hospital last Monday and is expected to be buried on Wednesday, subject to confirmation by the Office of the President and Cabinet.
President Mnangagwa is expected to officiate at the burial of one of Zimbabwe’s long-serving civil servants.
Yesterday, his body was flown from Charles Gumbo Barracks for Nyanga, Kanyuru Village under Chief Saunyama, where a church service was held in his honour and allowed the community to bid him farewell.
Afterwards, the body was flown to Rusape, Plot 213, Bexhill Farm, where it spent the night and will be flown back to Harare today.
On Tuesday, the body is expected to be taken from Charles Gumbo Barracks to the family residence in Newlands.
It will then be taken back to Charles Gumbo Barracks to lie in state ahead of the expected burial on Wednesday.
Zanu-PF Secretary for Education, Ideology and Research, who is also the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Cde Charles Tawengwa, announced the conferment of national hero status to the Chiringa family at their residence in Newlands last Friday night.
He described Cde Chiringa as a patriotic cadre who served the nation with distinction both during and after the struggle for independence.
“He was a seasoned public administrator and servant of the people of Zimbabwe.
“He dedicated his life to the struggle for national independence, post-independence and public service,” said Minister Tawengwa.
Born on December 10, 1960, in Nyanga District, Cde Chiringa joined the liberation struggle at the age of 16 on September 16, 1976.
He trained at Doroi Camp before proceeding to Chimoio, where he underwent further training at Takawira Base 2.
Cde Chiringa later trained at Nachingweya Camp in Tanzania under Regiment 7 before being appointed Political Commissar for Regiment 13, and was therefore responsible for the political education and ideological orientation of cadres.
In 1979, he was deployed to the Musikavanhu Sector in Mozambique, where he operated in Buhera and Gutu districts.
After independence, he joined the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in 1982 and rose through the ranks, serving in several key administrative roles across the country.
His work included serving as District Administrator for Makoni, where he spearheaded the Fast Track Land Reform Programme that benefited thousands of A1 and A2 farmers.
He also played a critical role in relocating communities displaced by Osborne Dam and later oversaw the relocation of nearly 1 000 families from Chiadzwa to Odzi to pave the way for diamond mining operations.
In August 2015, he was appointed Provincial Administrator for Mashonaland Central Province, where he helped coordinate major development initiatives, including the Kanyemba Development Project.
Cde Chiringa leaves behind wife Sherry, four children and six grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at Number 32, Victoria Road, Newlands, Harare.
