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Tendai Mugabe in Harare
Former Midlands governor and Zanu-PF Politburo member, Cde Cephas Msipa, who died at West end Hospital in Harare yesterday, has been declared a national hero.
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
Acting President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, announced the hero status at Cde Msipa’s son Charles’ Borrowdale home last night.
He said although the Midlands province was yet to write to the party making its recommendations on the hero status, a resolution was already made in consultation with President Mugabe that he be conferred national hero status.
Cde Mnangagwa was accompanied by the Zanu-PF national commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe.
“In Zanu-PF we’ve a way of handling such issues. You heard the political commissar Cde Kasukuwere speaking on the procedures to be taken. He was the elder in Midlands. He’s our elderman in Midlands. He was our father figure in the Midlands. He was our shining guiding star for the Midlands province.
“The procedure is we would want to hear what the Midlands leadership thinks. Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube was supposed to be here for him to tell us what the province thinks. However, the national leadership has taken a decision. Before the President flew out of the country we held a meeting. The President said he wasn’t sure what the Midlands’ recommendation was but said Cde Msipa has worked for this country, has served this country, has served our party and all political organisations in this country, which have fought for the liberation of this country. He has participated in them. Up to his last breath, he still spoke about our Independence, about our freedom and dignity. We decided to accord him the honour of burial at the National Heroes Acre. That is the word that the President of the party and President of the country left.”
Cde Mnangagwa said Cde Msipa’s credentials as a national hero were not questionable.
He said Cde Msipa was an outspoken politician who dedicated his entire life to serve his country.
Cde Mnangagwa said the departed hero was also a teacher just like President Mugabe and at one point he was the president of the Rhodesian Teachers’ Association.
As president, Cde Mnangagwa said, Cde Msipa was always in trouble with authorities who accused him of dabbling in politics.
He said Cde Msipa was arrested several times by the Smith regime for his political activities.
Cde Msipa’s son Charles said his father had hypertension problems and in 2010 he suffered a stroke and recovered miraculously.
“In the last five years he had chest infections particularly during the winter (season),” he said.
“Since our mother passed away three years ago, it was difficult for us to look after him in Gweru when we are here in Harare, but more recently, he was back in hospital due to chest infection.”
He said doctors last week had indicated that they had managed to arrest the chest infection, but over the weekend, doctors called to inform them that his condition had deteriorated.
“Today (yesterday), the doctors called us in the morning around 4am, and informed us that he had died,” he said.
Cde Msipa was born in Zvishavane on 7 July 1931. He attended Siboza School and Dadaya Mission.
Online Reporter