Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira – Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWEANS should emulate pioneering nationalists as the country requires upright, steadfast and dependable cadres who do not waver as the nation moves along its development trajectory to attain national objectives, President Mnangagwa has said.
He said this yesterday while addressing mourners at the burial of veteran politician, Cde Luke Mushore, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Dick Joboringo, at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Cde Mushore died on June 13. He was 76.
Said President Mnangagwa: “The late national hero, Comrade Mushore, ‘Dick Joboringo’, vaiva bango rakasimba rataivimba naro mumusangano wedu we Zanu PF. Vaisava zinyeke-nyeke (He was a dependable pillar in our party, Zanu PF). At this development stage of our nation hatidi vanhu vari zinyekenyeke.”
The President said Cde Mushore was a trusted and dependable cadre who never wavered from the founding ethos and principles of the revolution throughout his life and political journey.
He said Cde Mushore always provided honest and principled guidance and leadership.
“I call upon party members throughout provinces to seek the counsel and advice of the pioneering nationalists and veterans in the calibre of our departed national hero.
“Our party has a long-standing history. It should remain strong even when we bequeath it to those who will come after us.
“I further challenge all Zimbabweans, particularly our young people and the youth, to take lessons from the good traits of true patriotism, humility, selflessness and discipline that were exhibited by our late national hero,” said President Mnangagwa.
He described Cde Mushore’s death as a great loss to the country, his family and the fraternity of liberation war veterans.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Zimbabwe, our revolutionary party, Zanu PF, my family, and indeed, on my own behalf, I express my deepest heartfelt condolences to the Mushore family for this sorrowful loss,” President Mnangagwa said.
“We, however, remain inspired by the distinguished role played by our late departed hero in liberating our country from colonial bondage.
“The late Comrade Mushore was a dependable cadre and pillar, who diligently aided both the work of our party and Government with distinguished honour and sacrifice. He served as Zanu PF chairman for Mashonaland Central Province, and was a servant of the people who was unflinchingly loyal to our country. The patriotism, consistency and persistence which our national hero demonstrated during his service to our revolutionary mass party, Zanu PF, and in other various national capacities, are worthy of emulation by generations to come.”
President Mnangagwa chronicled the early life of Cde Mushore until his death.
Born on June 15, 1949, in Mushore Village under Chief Madziva, in Mashonaland Central Province, Cde Mushore joined the liberation struggle in 1970 at a defining time when Zanu was reshaping its war strategy.
His political activism started at Bernard Mzeki College in Marondera, where he was expelled as a learner in 1966 after protests against racist and discriminatory colonial policies.
He briefly worked in Chiweshe, alongside other youths, where they were mobilised by the firebrand Chief Chiweshe to carry out revolutionary acts of sabotage on tobacco farms belonging to racist Rhodesian farmers.
Subsequent hot pursuits, surveillance and arrests by colonial authorities forced Cde Mushore to flee to the Muzarabani area.
During that period, he joined a unit of early guerrilla fighters led by two national heroes, the late General Solomon Mujuru and Cde Michael Chakabva, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Vhuu.
He proceeded with other youths to Chifombo in Zambia, before undergoing military training at Mgagao in Tanzania.
After his training, Cde Mushore was among an early crop of Zanla fighters who fought alongside FRELIMO guerillas to open routes to Zimbabwe.
His group was commanded by the late national heroes Cde Vhuu and Cde Badza. These early groups of liberation fighters laid the groundwork and preparatory mobilisation for the protracted and all-out war phase of the liberation struggle.
Cde Mushore was part of the fearless fighters who had their first engagement with the Rhodesian Army at PaMauswa in December 1972.
As Section Commander, the late national hero led groups into countless battles, including the famous Chahwanda Battle, which saw a whole section of Rhodesian Grey Scouts being defeated.
Later, the group, which was commanded by the late Cde Joboringo, captured and transferred to Mozambique Gerald Hawksworth, who was a land development officer.
President Mnangagwa said the act was “a sensational wartime development, which became an instant international headline story”.
“This act projected Zanla as a compassionate and disciplined liberation army, whose conduct adhered to the principles of the Geneva Convention. The appendage of the colonial establishment, Gerald Hawksworth, was released unharmed and in good health just before the inaugural 1980 general elections, which ushered in our independence,” said the President.
During the war, Cde Joboringo was promoted to Detachment Commander and became one of Zanla’s prominent field commanders.
They opened many other new fronts, including that stretching from Mutoko to Mutare.
At independence, Cde Mushore briefly joined the police, before resigning due to family commitments but remained an active member of the revolutionary party, Zanu PF.
He rose through the ranks to become a District Coordinating Committee member before being elected provincial chairman for Mashonaland Central. He was also a Member of Parliament for both Muzarabani South and Muzarabani North constituencies.
At the height of the historic Land Reform Programme, the late Cde Dick Joboringo was part of the National Steering Committee of War Veterans who successfully coordinated operations.
“Today, we proudly honour him and others of his generation, as we continue to increase yields as well as production and productivity across all sub-sectors of agriculture.
“We shall treasure and fully utilise our God-given land and natural resources for the good of all the people of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.
The burial ceremony was attended by Vice Presidents Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, Zanu PF Politburo members, Cabinet ministers, legislators, civic leaders and diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, and representatives of Zanu PF structures, among others.
