Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Farmers’ Union (ZFU) president, Retired Major Abdul Credit Nyathi, who died last Friday in Gwanda has been declared a liberation war hero and is set to be buried at his rural home in Gungwe area tomorrow.
Rtd Major Nyathi, who was also vice chairperson of the Zimbabwe Land Commission, died at his farm in West Nicholson aged 71.
His son, Amkelwe, said his father’s body will be ferried from Bulawayo to his rural home on Friday in preparation for burial the following morning.
“The main gathering will be in Bulawayo at my father’s house in Malindela and for those in Gwanda and surrounding areas they can converge at the farm,” he said.
“The funeral procession will leave Bulawayo for Gungwe on Friday afternoon and the burial will be held on Saturday morning.
“My father always wanted to be buried in Gungwe because that’s where his roots are. Even though he was working in Harare he was visiting home very often,” said Amkelwe.
“We have been informed that he has been declared a provincial hero. We would like to thank his Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa for according my father this recognition. We appreciate that his service and dedication to develop this nation hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Zanu-PF Gwanda District Coordinating Committee chairman, Cde David Linda said it was befitting for the late Rtd Major Nyathi to be honoured as he contributed a lot during the liberation struggle. He said his immerse works to develop the country did not end there but continued up to the time of his death.
Cde Linda urged fellow comrades and people from Gwanda to come in their numbers to bid farewell to Rtd Major Nyathi.
“We would like to thank our listening President for responding to our plea to honour Cde Nyathi,” he said.
Rtd Major Nyathi was born on 28 September 1953 at Shape communal lands in Gwanda. He did his primary education at Gungwe, Ratanyane and Connemara primary schools. He went to Fatima Secondary School in Lupane District. He then proceeded to Esigodini Agricultural College where he obtained a Diploma in Agriculture. He briefly worked as an extension officer.
In 1976 he joined the liberation struggle and was later deployed at F.C Camp to oversee agriculture production.
In 1981 he was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army at 4 Brigade in Masvingo. He rose to the rank of captain and was later appointed farm manager. Rtd Major Nyathi retired from the army in 1995 as a major.
In 1997 he joined the Zimbabwe Farmers Union and held various posts and at one time was national livestock chairperson. He served as deputy chairperson of the Agricultural Rural Development Agency (Arda).
In 2014 he was elected ZFU president and worked with various boards including the Zimbabwe Farmers Development Trust where he was appointed a trustee. Rtd Major Nyathi was also a board member at Zimbabwe Alliance Farmers Trust.
In 2016 he was appointed as a Commissioner in the Zimbabwe Land Commission. In 2021 he was reappointed Commissioner and elevated to vice chairperson of the commission..
Rtd Major Nyathi is survived by two wives Thembeni and Sukoluhle, eight children and 12 grandchildren. — -@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter