Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has declared the late Brigadier-General (Retired) Samuel Mpabanga a National Hero.
Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mpabanga died last Monday at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital after a long illness.
He was 69 and is survived by his wife and four children.
Born on 31 August 1956 in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South Province, he attended Mapate Primary School and Beitbridge Primary School from 1963 to 1970 before proceeding to Manama Mission (1971 to 1972) and Matobo Secondary School from 1973 to 1974.
He crossed the border to join the liberation struggle as a ZPRA cadre in 1977 and briefly stayed at Mapate before crossing Shashe River with his colleagues headed to Selibe- Phikwe in Botswana.
The late Brig-Gen (Rtd) stayed at Selibe-Phikwe Prison for three months with his uncle the late Raphel Mpabanga, Martin Kukubele and the late Sibusiso Mpabanga. They were later flown to Zambia.
He started military training late 1977 at Mulungushi under the Zambian Army with attachments from ZPRA who included the late Cephas Khupe and late Gedi Dube. The training at Mlungushi was for conventional warfare.
From 1978 to 1979 he went for further military training in Russia, formerly the Soviet union in Odessa.
He joined the Zimbabwe National Army on 12 July 1980 and retired from active service on 31 August 2022.
The family welcomed the gesture from the Government to accord him National Hero status, saying it was befitting given his contribution to the country’s independence.
“As the Mpabanga family we are happy and appreciate that President Mnangagwa and the ruling party, Zanu-PF saw it prudent to honour my brother with a National Hero status,” said family spokesperson, Mr Stephen Mbizo.
“My brother worked tirelessly for the nation and the Zimbabwe National Army. We are also grateful for the support that we continue to get from Government since we lost our beloved brother on 9 February.”
Zanu-PF director for the War Veterans League, Cde Voltan Ekem Moyo thanked President Mnangagwa for conferring the late respected army officer with a National Hero status.
“Brigadier-General Samuel Mpabanga is a true definition of a man who dedicated his life to both country and the Zimbabwe National Army. We thank President Mnangagwa for recognising the good work of our fallen hero,” he said.
“After Independence we kept in close touch with Brigadier-General Mpabanga as we were neighbours here in Sauerstown suburb in Bulawayo and whenever we met we talked a lot about our time in the liberation struggle.”
