Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure, Zimpapers Politics Hub
NATIONAL hero Cde Edward Raradza will be buried today at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, with President Mnangagwa expected to preside over the ceremony.
Cde Raradza (79) died on Friday last week.
He was declared a national hero in recognition of his contribution to the country’s agricultural sector and economic development.
Yesterday, his body was airlifted to his farm in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central Province.
It was later airlifted back to Harare in the evening, where it lies in state at his home awaiting burial today.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe confirmed that all is set for Cde Raradza’s burial.
The gates will open as early as 6 am. Mourners are expected to be seated by 7 am. Burial logistics are already in place
“We kindly appeal to our members, especially those from Mashonaland Central, to come in their huge numbers, particularly those from Muzarabani, where Cde Raradza farmed and participated in politics”, emphasised Minister Kazembe.
“We are going to dispatch buses across the provinces to ferry mourners to bid farewell to the late national hero,” said Cde Kazembe.
Cde Raradza was a prominent politician, businessman and tobacco farmer who served as vice chairperson of the Zimbabwe Farmers’ union.
He was involved in the country’s agricultural sector and legislative processes, representing Zanu PF as Member of Parliament for Muzarabani South after running unopposed in the 2008 elections.
Cde Raradza was a strong supporter of the Look East Policy as Zimbabwe sought to counter the effects of sanctions imposed by Western countries, particularly from 2002.
He was credited with helping facilitate the first non-official funds from China, parallel to policy loans accessed through Government channels.
Cde Raradza was also the first black Zimbabwean to establish and own a coal mining company after Zambezi Gas and Coal Mine was awarded a special grant in 2002. He served as director of Zambezi Gas and Coal Mine.
In 2011, Cde Raradza co-founded and owned Millennium Tobacco Floors, a licensed tobacco auction company operating from Msasa, Harare.
Throughout his career with the ZFU and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Cde Raradza was a vocal advocate for tobacco farmers.
He regularly lobbied Government and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for fairer input pricing, timely access to fertiliser and better pricing structures at auction floors to protect local farmers from inflation.
Born in Murehwa on July 2, 1947, to Mateu and Derai, Cde Raradza attended St Benedict School, where he completed Standard Six.
He later attained a Journeyman Class 1 qualification in card litho printing and worked for Variprint (Pvt) Limited, rising to the position of supervisor.
His involvement in politics began in 1965 when he joined ZANU Youth. He was later detained and restricted to reporting to St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza.
Cde Raradza served on the boards of several institutions, including the Grain Marketing Board and Dorowa Minerals (Pvt) Ltd.
He was chairman of Implementation and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training in the SADC region.
A successful farmer and businessman, he received the National Farmer Award of Excellence in 2003–2004.
At the time of his death, he was executive chairman of Farmers World Holdings and managing director of Zambezi Gas Zimbabwe.
Cde Raradza made a significant contribution to the African Apostolic Church.
In 2010, during a Holy Communion gathering at Nzvimbo in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central Province, he converted to the African Apostolic Church.
Mutumwa Paul Mwazha identified him as a capable church leader, and he was made a reverend the same year.
He subsequently supported the church and disadvantaged communities using his resources, including drilling boreholes at church stations and remote schools.
In 2022, he was promoted to the position of Bishop, which he served with distinction.
His commitment to the church was reflected by members of his flock travelling from Mashonaland Central to visit him at his Mt Pleasant Heights home when his health was failing.
Cde Raradza is the father of Mashonaland Central provincial Youth chairman Cde Emmerson Raradza.
He is survived by his wife, Julia, 11 children, 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at 964, Mt Pleasant Heights, Harare.
