adminThe Herald, 20 June 1981
THE late Herbert Chitepo, one of Zimbabwe’s national heroes is to have a new high density housing estate near Salisbury named after him.
Herbert Chitepo Park is to be established by Salisbury City Council north-west of the inter-section of Scam Way and Domboshava Road, about 20km north-west of Salisbury.
The council plans about 500 ultra-low cost houses on the State-owned Hatcliffe estate which was originally earmarked for the accommodation of squatters by the Government.
In view of the urgency of the building project, the Government will plan and develop the scheme and as the houses are completed, they will be handed over to the municipality, together with the loan debt, for administration and sale.
Mr Chitepo the country’s first African barrister and former chairman of Zanu (PF) during the liberation struggle was killed in a bomb blast at his home in Lusaka’s Chilenje Township in March 1975.
A commission of inquiry into his death was later appointed by the Zambian government. Mr Chitepo’s widow, Victoria is the Deputy Minister of Information and Tourism.
The decision to honour Mr Chitepo was taken at a meeting of the city council health, housing and community services this week after the secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Mr Leslie Brown, had asked what the name of the new local government area would be.
The committee felt it should honour Mr Chitepo because of his “remarkable” dedication to the liberation struggle.
“It was a form of appreciation for the work that he did for his country,” it said.
“He died fighting for the cause of freedom and the total independence of Zimbabwe”.
Born in 1923 in the Inyanga district, Mr Chitepo was educated at local mission schools and then at Adams College, Natal, South Africa and the University of London.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
As we celebrate Heroes Day, let’s all honour the living and fallen heroes of the armed struggle. Thousands died or were maimed fighting for the total independence of this country.
A nationalist, pan-Africanist, legal practitioner and writer, Herbert Pfumandini Wiltshire Chitepo was the first African barrister and Chairman of Zanu.
Chitepo has been honoured in a number of ways: suburbs, buildings and streets have been named after him to appreciate his contributions during the liberation struggle. However, the suburb in the story was probably a suggestion that was not implemented.
There is also a Chitepo School of Ideology, a Zanu PF outfit where members are trained in revolutionary ethos. No party cadre represents the party in national elections without passing through the School.
The Great Zimbabwe University also established a full-fledged Herbert Chitepo Law School. Graduates from the School are expected to uphold basic principles of human justice and commit themselves to Zimbabwe and patriotism.
Online Reporter