Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube, [email protected]
THE late National Hero Brigadier-General (Retired) Donald Silundi Tshuma will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Wednesday, with President Mnangagwa set to preside over the burial proceedings.
In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage announced the funeral and body movement arrangements for the late liberation war veteran and retired senior military officer, whose death has been described as a loss to both the nation and the armed forces.
According to the programme, the body of Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma will today be airlifted from Bulawayo to Swart Village in Bubi District in Matabeleland North Province for a brief family ceremony starting at 11am.
After the ceremony, the body will be flown back to Bulawayo, where it will lie in state at the family residence.
A provincial send-off ceremony for the late national hero is scheduled for tomorrow.
The ministry said the remains of Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma will then be flown to Harare on Tuesday at 3pm and taken to Charles Gumbo Barracks VIP Funeral Parlour, where the body will lie in state ahead of burial.
“Burial proceedings will commence on Wednesday, the 27th of May 2026 and mourners are expected to be seated by 0700hrs,” read the statement.
Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma died on 15 May 2026 at his residence in Nkulumane 12 suburb in Bulawayo at the age of 71.
He is remembered for his contribution to the liberation struggle and his service in the Zimbabwe National Army after Independence.
During and after the liberation war, many cadres who fought for the country’s independence went on to form the backbone of the Zimbabwe National Army, playing key roles in national defence, security and institution-building.
His death comes at a time when the nation continues to honour veterans of the liberation struggle whose contributions helped secure Zimbabwe’s Independence in 1980.
Last Wednesday, Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi led a funeral parade for Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma at Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo, where he urged Zimbabweans to emulate the ideals of loyalty and patriotism that remained embedded in the life of the senior military officer and liberation struggle veteran.
The decorated army commander’s journey into the liberation struggle began after he evaded arrest by the Rhodesian Special Branch and crossed into Botswana to join thousands of others who sacrificed their lives to free the country from minority colonial rule. From Botswana he was sent to Zambia where he received military training at Mwembeshi in 1977. In February 1978 Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma was part of 300 cadres that were sent to Libya for further training.
When he returned to Zambia from Libya in November 1979 he and others were sent to the then Soviet Union for specialised training. They were in the Soviet Union until June 1980.
On his return to an independent Zimbabwe Brig-Gen (Rtd) Tshuma joined the Zimbabwe National Army.
He rose through the ranks and was promoted to Captain in 1981, Major in 1982 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 2012 and eventual Colonel.
He was promoted to Brigadier-General in 2020 upon retirement.
Some of the awards bestowed on him for dedicated, selfless and exemplary service to the nation include the Liberation Medal for his contribution during the liberation struggle, the Independence Medal, the Long and Exemplary Service Medal and the Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award.
The senior officer is survived by four children.
