Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu dies

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
LIBERATION war hero, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Charles Charlotte Ndlovu, has died. He was 61. Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu died at Michael Gordon Medical Centre in South Africa on Friday last week. The Minister responsible for the Welfare of War Veterans, Cde Chris Mutsvangwa, yesterday said President Robert Mugabe conferred liberation war hero status on Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu.

Cde Mutsvangwa said a military funeral parade would be held at Mbizo Barracks in Bulawayo for Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu today. The liberation war hero will be buried at the Nkulumane Provincial Heroes Acre tomorrow.

Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu, whose pseudo name was John Siyazi, was born on November 2, 1954, at Mtshabezi Hospital.

He did his primary education at Longfield and Mafakela Primary schools before proceeding to Luveve High School for his secondary education.

Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu joined the liberation struggle in 1976 when he crossed the border as a Zipra cadre and received military training at Mulungushi training camp in Zambia.

He was then deployed to the front and later sent to Yugoslavia for further military training in 1978.

At ceasefire, Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu came back to Zimbabwe and was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army. He rose through the ranks to the position of Lt Col in 1986.

He was posted to the services directorate at the army headquarters and appointed technical staff officer grade two armaments, where he served until his retirement on April 30, 1991.

Rtd Lt Col Ndlovu received several medals for his gallantry, selfless dedication to the liberation of the country and for his outstanding service in the army.

He is survived by wife, Zelipha Ndlovu, and three children.