Online Reporter
Zimpapers Writer
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will today preside over the burial of national hero Major-General (Retired) Evaristo Dzihwema at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare.
Maj-Gen (Retired) Dzihwema, whose liberation war nom de guerre was Cde Kid MaWrong Wrong, died on June 25 in India, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
He was 63.
His body was repatriated to Zimbabwe on July 1.
Director of Strategic Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mr Mike Masaka, said Government had completed all preparations for the burial of the national hero at the
National Heroes’ Acre today. He added that 64 buses had been deployed to transport mourners from Harare and Manicaland to the national shrine.
“I can also confirm that His Excellency the President will preside over the burial proceedings tomorrow (today) at the National Heroes’ Acre. As Government, I can confirm that we are ready to give a dignified send-off to the late national hero, General (Retired) Evaristo Dzihwema. We have provided 64 buses to ferry mourners to the National
Heroes’ Acre. We have 50 buses for Harare Province, 10 buses for Manicaland and four buses for family members.”
Mr Masaka said the body of the late national hero lay in state at his Zimre Park home yesterday, allowing relatives, friends and members of the public an opportunity to pay their last respects ahead of today’s burial.
Maj-Gen (Retired) Dzihwema died last week while undergoing medical treatment in India and was subsequently declared a national hero in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the liberation struggle and post-independence national service. He served in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces before taking up several senior
Government positions after retiring from the military.
Maj-Gen (Retired) Dzihwema joined the liberation struggle in 1978 after he was assaulted by Rhodesian security forces while travelling to obtain a juvenile registration certificate. The incident strengthened his resolve to join thousands of other young Zimbabweans who had taken up arms in the fight for the country’s independence.
After receiving military training in Mozambique, Maj-Gen (Retired) Dzihwema was deployed to the operational front, where he served alongside several prominent liberation war commanders until Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980.
Following independence, he joined the Zimbabwe National Army and rose through the ranks to attain the rank of major-general. During his military career, he held numerous command and staff appointments, including Brigade
Staff Officer, Director of Procurement, Director of Finance and Director-General responsible for personnel in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
Following his retirement from active military service in December 2017, Maj-Gen (Retired) Dzihwema joined the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment as Principal Director before later transferring to the
Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, where he served as Chief Director until his death.
During his distinguished career, he received several honours and decorations, including the Liberation Medal, Independence Medal, Ten-Year Service Medal, Long and Exemplary Service Medal, Mozambique Campaign Medal,
Democratic Republic of Congo Medal and the Grand Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit.
Maj-Gen (Retired) Dzihwema is survived by his wife, Alice, and three sons.
