Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE presidium has expressed optimism about prospects of a bumper harvest this year, made possible by the above-normal rainfall being received in most parts of the country.
Representing President Mnangagwa at the funeral of the late Sekuru Leonard Kashiri — who was the father-in-law to Defence Minister Honourable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri — at Anglican Church Holy Name Parish in Sakubva on Wednesday, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga attributed the promising agricultural outlook to divine intervention, urging the nation to be thankful for the rains.
Sekuru Kashiri died last Friday, and was laid to rest at Yeovil Cemetery. He was 103. “We are grateful for the rains received across the country this year, and as we continue receiving the rains, we are confident that this will lead to a bumper harvest,” said VP Chiwenga.
Unlike last year’s El Niño-induced drought that devastated the agriculture sector, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development predicts a successful 2025 farming season, particularly for maize and cereal crops, which are already flowering and developing cobs.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) forecasts intense rainfall in the coming days, rejuvenating crops, improving pastures, and increasing water availability, filling up water reseviours and benefiting livestock farmers.
During Wednesday’s funeral service, VP Chiwenga chronicled the life history of the late Sekuru Kashiri, and spoke of his passionate love for the game of football.
“It is with a heavy heart that we gather here to lay to rest Sekuru Kashiri, but at the same time we are here to celebrate his life. He worked at St Faith’s Mission School as a building instructor, and later transferred to Ellis Gladhill High School where he continued with his career until his retirement in the 1990s.
In his leisure time, Sekuru Kashiri was a passionate soccer player.
“As testament for his love for the game, he played for the once popular Mutare United. He played as a defender, and his first born child, Anthony — husband to Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri — was the goalkeeper. Owing to this, God rewarded him with a long life. He was a respected member of the community, a God-fearing person, and an ardent Anglican Church member,” said VP Chiwenga.
Sekuru Kashiri is survived by five children, 22 grandchildren and 55 great grandchildren.
Scores of people from different walks of life, including colleagues of Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri from Government and the ruling ZANU PF party, among them Politburo members, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, Retired Lieutenant-General Michael Nyambuya and Cde Mike Madiro attended the funeral.
Cde Mandiwanzira said: “If there is anything that I have learnt here, it is the legacy of love that Sekuru Kashiri has left behind. This is the same spirit of love and care that we have also learnt from our national chairman, Honourable Muchinguri-Kashiri as we have been told by her husband, to the extent that they actually call her chocolate in the Kashiri family. We want to make it known that she is also our chocolate in ZANU PF.”
Holy Name Parish Vabvuwi chairman, Mr Chabveka Maregera said the late Sekuru Kashiri was a prayerful man.
“He was a prayerful man. I started knowing him in 1978 when he used to stay in New Dangare. Those days, teachers commanded a lot of respect, but this man remained humble. We have no doubt that he has gone straight to be with the Lord because of his good deeds,” he said.
Online Reporter