Thousands attend Muzariri’s burial

bid farewell to national hero Cde Menard Livingstone Muzariri.
Cde Muzariri, whose Chimurenga name was Menard Negidi, was the Deputy Director General in the President’s Office.
He succumbed to liver cancer at St Annes Hospital on Monday and was buried yesterday at the national shrine.
By 7am yesterday scores of people had already lined the streets of Mbare to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying Cde Muzariri’s body.
At Stodart Hall groups of placards-waving youths and the Mbare Chimurenga choir sang revolutionary songs as various dignitaries and service chiefs arrived.
The placards were inscribed with messages denouncing the illegal economic sanctions and bidding farewell to the national hero.
Some of the banners read, “Sanctions, Public Enemy Number One.” Another banner read, “You served your country well,” and “Zorora Murugare Mwana Wevhu.”
President Mugabe led the dignitaries and close relatives in body viewing before it was taken to its final resting place.
Some of the top Government officials included Vice President Joice Mujuru, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and several Cabinet Ministers.
At the National Heroes Acre youths from surrounding suburbs of Warren Park, Westlea and Kuwadzana came on foot singing revolutionary songs to bid farewell to the gallant son of the soil.
Some mourners came from Cde Muzariri’s rural home in Chesa, Mt Darwin, while others came from as far as Manicaland.
Ministers of Gender from Malawi, Sudan and Uganda who are attending the on-going International Conference on Women Economic and Political Empowerment also came to pay their respects.
South African, Zambian, Tanzanian, Malawian and Namibian intelligence services were also represented at the burial.
Cde Muzariri’s children, who were not present, sent a letter that was read out by their uncle, thanking President Mugabe and Government for bestowing their father with national hero status.
They described their father as a unifier who did not segregate.
In his speech President Mugabe described Cde Muzariri’s loss as a blow to the nation and urged the younger generation to emulate his deeds.
Cde Muzariri, the President said, had fought gallantly to bring an end the racist Rhodesian regime.
“The one we are burying left school to liberate the country when he was still a boy, he grew up in the war.
“Kuenda kunze kwenyika uchiti ndauya kuhondo kwaida munhu akazvipira nekuti kwaitoda kunzi uzoratidza kuzvipira kwacho,” he said.
President Mugabe said the war was difficult with guerillas exposed to hunger, diseases and dangerous wild animals.
He said because of these conditions even some that survived the war were still suffering from the injuries sustained in battle.
“In 1980 we raised the flag saying Zimbabwe has replaced Rhodesia, Zimbabwe would never be ruled by foreigners, Zimbabwe will never be a colony again,” he said.
President Mugabe took a swipe at those that backtracked in the struggle against colonial rule.
“Handi vose vakanga vakashinga, vamwe vaidududza, vamwe vasati vambosvika kuNyanga, pfocho vatiza, vakaita pfocho tinavo. Vamwe ndovakatiza iye zvino vava kuda kutonga, ndovepfocho ivavo,” he said.
President Mugabe said it was painful that such cowards were even working with the country’s enemies in a bid to reverse the gains of independence.

He said they were even calling for the imposition of more sanctions on the country and those who waged the liberation struggle.
President Mugabe said the people who betrayed the struggle were now living comfortably and even calling on the imposition of the illegal sanctions.
He said although Cde Muzariri had an affable smile, he was a serious man and took his work seriously.
President Mugabe said it was painful that his death came soon after the country lost another national hero, Cde David Karimanzira and on the eve of the 31st Independence Day celebrations.
“To die in April zvinorwadza, ndiwo mwedzi watinocelebrater independence. On Monday we shall be celebrating the 31st anniversary of our hard won independence . . .
“To his friends in the war his departure is a dent, an irreparable one,” President Mugabe said.
The President urged youths to emulate Cde Muzariri’s work and dedication to Zimbabwe’s defence.
Cde Muzariri was born on August 5, 1955 at Chironda Village in Wedza.
He attended Chironga and Nyamhara Primary Schools before going to Mavhuradonha for his secondary education.
Cde Muzariri left the country to join the liberation struggle in 1973 while he was doing his form two.
He received his military training at Mgagao in Tanzania and then proceeded to do an advanced instructor’s course at the same camp.
Cde Muzariri remained in Tanzania between 1975 and 1977.
In 1978 he was posted to Zambia where he worked in the party office as an administrator and was later transferred to Botswana.
He was later re-deployed to Mozambique. After independence he was attested as an intelligence officer in 1981 in the Prime Minister’s office.
Cde Muzariri rose through the ranks and was promoted to Deputy Director General in 2003, a position he held until the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife Esther and five children.