President Mnangagwa presides Over burial of National Hero Colonel (Rtd) Kenny Constantine Mabuya

Bongani Ndlovu, Online Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is on Thursday presiding over the burial of the late National Hero Colonel (Rtd) Kenny Constantine Mabuya at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

Colonel (Rtd) Mabuya died at West End Clinic in Harare on January 23 after a short illness. He was 72.

President Mnangagwa has arrived at the National Heroes Acre, alongside Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, service chiefs and senior Government officials.

Colonel (Rtd) Kenny Constantine Mabuya whose nom de guerre was Cde Kenny Ridzai was born on 12 January, 1952, in Gangabezi village under chief Ndube in Filabusi, Insiza district in Matabeleland South province to George Nxhoza Mabuya and Makonga Mabuya (nee Mabhena). He was a member of family of five.

In 1954, his family relocated to Zambia where they had bought a farm.

In 1960,Young Kenny enrolled for primary education at Thalimbana Primary School, Thongwe District in Lusaka. In 1968, he proceeded to Libala Secondary School in Lusaka again for secondary education.

As the impulsion of the war of liberation gathered momentum and the pursuit for liberation infiltrated through all corners of Southern Rhodesia , politics emerged as a topical subject and it became a topical subject in many educational institutions including this in Northern Rhodesia (present day Zambia).

Kenny’s political consciousness matured considerably as a result of social injustices, indiscriminate imprisonment of Africans, and the restriction of their freedom of movement by the Rhodesian Security Forces, particularly in the Bulawayo suburbs.

As the impulsion of the war of liberation gathered momentum and the pursuit for liberation infiltrated through all corners of Southern Rhodesia, politics emerged as a topical subject and it became a topical subject in many educational institutions including this in Northern Rhodesia (present day Zambia).

Upon completion of training, Cde Kenny Ridzai together with Comrades Vhuu, Mhembwe, Museve, Danny Murimo and Charakupa returned to Lusaka in early February 1972.

They were immediately sent to Mozambique where they were received by the likes of Cde Mayor Urimbo, Chauke ,Chinamaropa and Chimurenga who handed them over to base commanders Cde Josiah Tongogara, Rex Nhongo, Tungamirai and Dauramanzi. The group was deployed to Chifombo camp where they were divided into three groups with Cde Gwitira as their Commander.

In August 1972, they ambushed Rhodesian soldiers near a bridge in the Chunya area in Mutoko. The Rhodesian soldiers failed to match the fire power of the freedom fighters and they were defeated. Cde Kenny Ridzai and his troop then travelled to a nearby mountain where they had hidden their ammunition.

They were however unaware that the Rhodesian soldiers were waiting for them. Upon arrival, at 5am, Cde Kenny Ridzai, together with Cdes, Charakupa, Adam Nziramasanga, Zeki and a fourth comrade found themselves entrapped by Rodhesian soldiers.

Using a hide and seek strategy Cde Kenny Ridzai managed to elude the soldiers and sought refuge in a nearby mountain.

While in Centenary, Cde Ridzai became the commander of the three sections. The freedom fighters recognized that the commercial farmers in the area were giving a lot of support to the Smith regime. Cde Kenny Ridzai devised a plan to destroy infrastructure, tobacco, livestock and spotter planes belonging to the white farmers.

They would attack their targets at various intervals under the cover of darkness, while giving no room to Rhodesian soldiers to fire back or trace them.

In 1977 Cde Kenny Ridzai was appointed deputy to Cde Sheba Gava in the Military Security Department. Later in the same year he was sent to China for further military training focusing on security studies for six months.

During and soon after independence, Cde Mabuya, under the leadership of His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, worked rigorously to avert machinations by operatives of the Smith Regime who intended to eliminate the leaders and commanders of the Liberation struggle.

In recognition of his continued dedication, selfless and exemplary service to the nation, Colonel (Retd) Kenny Constantine Mabuya was awarded the following medals:

Liberation Medal – for his gallantry and selfless dedication to the liberation of Zimbabwe.
Independence Medal – for his contribution towards the independence of Zimbabwe.
Ten Years’ Service Medal – for his immense contribution to the integration, formation and development of the Zimbabwe National Army during the first ten years of its existence.
Mozambique Campaign Medal – for his contribution towards the restoration of peace and stability in Mozambique.