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THE memorial service for the late provincial magistrate in-charge of Matabeleland North and former freedom fighter, John Masimba, will be held today at his North End home. Masimba, who was aged 56, died in June at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) due to intestinal complications that emanated from an accident and was declared a liberation war hero.
He was buried at his Famona Farm in Inyathi, Bubi District.
Masimba’s eldest son, Mr Gerald Masimba, yesterday said the memorial service would start with a church service led by the Methodist Church at 9.30am.
“We will be having a memorial service tomorrow starting at 9am. There will be speakers from Zanu-PF, his former workmates and other close friends,” he said.
Masimba was born on 4 February, 1957 in Chivi District in Masvingo Province and went to Taru Primary School.
He enrolled at Berejena Mission where he did Form One and Two before proceeding to Gokomere High School for Form Three and Four.
After that he went to Mozambique in 1976 to join the liberation struggle and underwent military training at Chimoio under Zanla.
Masimba returned to the country at independence and trained as a magistrate at the University of Zimbabwe and the Judiciary College of Zimbabwe in Domboshava outside Harare between 1981 and 1982.
On finishing his course, Masimba was employed by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as a trainee magistrate and was sworn in as a junior magistrate in 1984 until 1987 when he was promoted to a senior magistrate.
In 1989, he became a provincial magistrate starting off in Masvingo where he took charge before he was later transferred to Marondera to head Mashonaland East.
On 2 January 2001, Mr Masimba was transferred to Bulawayo as head of Matabeleland North and Bulawayo provinces.
He served as provincial magistrate for 24 years.
Masimba is survived by a wife, Sherry Rose and four children – three sons and a daughter.
Online Reporter