Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba,Zimpapers Writer
THE late war veteran, Cde Robert Poshai, who was declared a liberation war hero, has buried at the Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre, becoming the 274th hero to be honoured at the Provincial shrine.
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Owen Ncube, was the ‘chief mourner’ on Saturday during the burial of the late hero whose Chimurenga was Cde Magamba.
Addressing family members, war veterans and Government officials, Cde Ncube said Cde Poshai died on November 11, 2025 in South Africa after a long illness.
“On behalf of the Midlands Province and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to convey my deepest heartfelt condolences to the Poshai family on the untimely departure of their beloved father, mentor, inspirational unifier, and advocate of peace and progress,” he said.
“His departure has left a gap too huge to fill in his family, the War Veterans Community, the Party Zanu-PF, and the entire Midlands Province.”
Minister Ncube said the Midlands Province appreciates the conferment of liberation war hero status by President Mnangagwa, to Cde Poshai in recognition of his selfless sacrifice to the independence and freedom of Zimbabwe from colonial bondage.
“As you may be aware, our Vision 2030 torch bearer President Mnangagwa, himself a distinguished and decorated freedom fighter trained in Egypt and China among other countries, thereafter selflessly and fearlessly engaged the racist colonial regime operating under the famous Crocodile Gang.
“It is the same liberation war path of selfless sacrifice traversed by Cde Poshai that we value, as our independence did not come on a silver platter,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the objectives of the war of liberation focused on the restoration of the dignity of the black majority and their socio-economic advancement as pursued by the Second Republic under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, since its inception in November 2017.
“In this regard, inclusive strategic empowerment policies, programmes and projects that include the devolution and decentralisation agenda have been implemented, and investors among them Africa’s richest mogul have been lured into the country, cognisant of the need to grow the economy, create jobs, defend our national interests and improve the livelihoods of communities, especially the youth, women, and war veterans,” he said.
Minister Ncube highlighted that tangible flagship signature projects in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, tourism and retail that drive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have been implemented nationally.
He said the Midlands Province is a proud beneficiary of over 1 000 projects rolled out by the Second Republic.
“To Cde Magamba, today the Midlands Province salutes you as we take great lessons from your commitment and selfless sacrifice towards the struggle to define our political and economic destiny,” he said.
Minister Ncube said Cde Poshai was born on March 3 1955 in Chitando Village under Chief Chiwara. He attended Jada Primary School from 1962–1968. He was employed in the sugar industry in Chiredzi from 1974–1977, where he was exposed to oppression, discrimination, and brutality perpetrated by the white minority regime against the black majority.
In 1977, Cde Poshai took the brave and sacrificial decision like most youths of his time to join the war of liberation and crossed the Mozambican border to Chibawawa Camp.
In 1978 he was sent for military training at Tembwe Training Camp Base 2. After his military training, he was deployed to the war front in Tete Province, Chaminuka Sector, until ceasefire.
Cde Poshai Robert is survived by two sons and a daughter.
