admin
Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga following the death of his young brother Wilfred.
Wilfred died of kidney failure in South Africa last Saturday and will be buried in Hwedza tomorrow.
Speaking at Gen Chiwenga’s home in Harare, the President said he was saddened by the untimely death of Gen Chiwenga’s young brother.
“Tine urombo nekurasikirwa nemunun’una wenyu. Takaberekwa tiine kaukama kedu semhuri nekuzivana nekudanana,” he said.
“Anga ari gotwe achitonga kwesekwese achikuyemerai imiwo muchidada naye. Tine urombo kuti aenda maendero anozunza moyo zvakadai.
“Chokwadi mange muchiziva kuti ane urwere hweitsvo asi izvi zvimwe zvakazobudawo nepamwe zvana blood pressure neheart attack izvo hapana anozvigadzirira.”
President Mugabe said the gap that Wilfred left was irreplaceable and his contribution to the Chiwenga family will be missed.
“Anga achibatsira pakati pemhuri. Kana aenda panova nekushaikwa kwerubatsiro irworwo,” he said.
President Mugabe said his relationship with the Chiwenga family dates back to the liberation struggle.
“Kuuya kwataita pamwe naAmai kuda kweukama hwedu hwatagara tinaho kwemakore,” he said.
“VaChiwenga ndakavaziva kwemakore nemakore tiri kuhondo. Takarwa hondo yedu zvakanaka kusvikira tawana zvataida. Takarasikirwa nevakawanda kuhondo kusanganisira vana vadiki. Hapana ane hana yekutambira rufu, zvinorwadza.”
President Mugabe urged Wilfred’s son Takudzwanashe to remain focused and draw support from the family comfort.
“Mozvisimbaradza moramba makabatana. Kurasikirwa nababa uchiri mudiki kudaro zvinorwadza. I hope you will get family support . You are not alone and this should strengthen you to go ahead. You should have more courage,” he said.
President Mugabe said it was important to note that Gen Chiwenga was still committed to his traditional family.
He said that was evidenced by the presence of Gen Chiwenga’s family members from Hwedza and the fact that his young brother will be buried at their rural home.
“Tinotenda kuti muchiri makabatana. Tsika yedu muchiri kuitevedzera. Hamuna kuti zvandave muchirungu handichina basa nemusha. Tine midzi, zvekare njodzi yakadai inokuwanai muri pamwe,” he said.
Gen Chiwenga thanked President Mugabe for consoling him and his family. He said his young brother had kidney problems but a post-mortem showed that he had also developed heart problems and high blood pressure.
“We thank you President for coming. We know you have been burying one of our heroes today. Wilfred was the last born in our family,” he said.
Gen Chiwenga said he last spoke to his brother on Independence Day and everything appeared to be normal.
He said he was shocked to hear that his brother was found dead in his house in South Africa where he was working as well as receiving treatment.
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, service chiefs, Senate President Edna Madzongwe and other senior Government officials accompanied President Mugabe.
Wilfred was born in Hwedza in 1966. He went to the United Kingdom where he attained a degree in Computer Studies before enrolling for a Master’s Degree in the same country.
Wilfred worked for the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation before its unbundling into TelOne, Zimpost and POSB Bank. He went to South Africa in 2005 where he worked for another company.
He later became a lecturer at the Rand University where he was doubling as a consultant, positions he held until the time of his death. Wilfred is survived by his son, Takudzwa.
Online Reporter