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Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
Zimbabweans from all walks of life yesterday thronged the streets of Mbare, Stodart Hall and the National Heroes Acre in Harare to bid farewell to national hero, Major-General Eliah Bandama.
Maj-Gen Bandama died last Friday in Harare.
He was 56.
People lined the streets of Mbare singing revolutionary songs, while jostling to catch a glimpse of the hearse bearing Maj-Gen Bandama’s white casket that was draped in the national flag when it arrived for body viewing at Stodart Hall.
The crowd, that included the elderly and young, was entertained by Mbare Chimurenga Choir.
The hearse arrived at around 9:20am accompanied by close relatives and friends, followed by ministers and other dignitaries.
Among those who arrived early at Stodart Hall were service chiefs, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Defence Minister Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Oppah Muchinguri, Zanu-PF provincial chairman for Harare Cde Amos Midzi and Harare Mayor Mr Bernard Manyenyeni.
Vice President Joice Mujuru arrived at 10am followed by President Mugabe who then led the mourners in body viewing.
The body then left for its final resting place at the National Heroes Acre where it was welcomed by multitudes of people who had gathered at the national shrine.
Some mourners displayed banners that described Maj-Gen Bandama as a dependable and accomplished cadre and expressed appreciation to the national hero for his service to the nation.
Vabvuwi Choir thrilled mourners with their songs “Mazambara” and “Shanda”.
Many described Maj-Gen Bandama as a dependable cadre, selfless, intelligent and humble.
Family spokesperson Mr Freddy Bandama, who thrilled many at the national shrine with his rich Ndau dialect, described his brother as a unifier, an intelligent and humble man.
“He used to visit at home and respected us although he had a high post in the army,” said Mr Bandama. “He would joke and make everyone laugh. Even when he was not feeling well, he wanted us to believe he would get well.”
Manicaland Senator Cde Monica Mutsvangwa described Maj-Gen Bandama as an example of a leader who made people feel at home in the province.
“He had all the qualities of a good man and leader,” she said. “He had all the opportunities to advance his education, but at one time he had to abandon that to serve his country.”
A mourner from Mbare, Mr Peter Tambala, said he did not know Maj-Gen Bandama personally, but came to Stodart Hall in honour of the good works of a national hero.
“I did not go to war but he did,” he said. “It is because of people like Maj-Gen Bandama that we have freedom. I have respect for those who fought during the liberation struggle.”
National Constitutional Assembly leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku, who hails from Chipinge where Maj-Gen Bandama came from, said the national hero did not forsake his home area.
“He was one of the first people from the village who crossed into Mozambique at a very tender age,” he said.
“They were actually coming from primary school when they crossed into Mozambique. He was committed to his work and he did a lot of work to develop his home area of Chipinge.”
Other banners around the national shrine read: “Commandos never die”, “Major-General Bandama an accomplished commander”, Hamba kahle Cde Spins Nhamoyesango”, “A legacy of serving the nation”, “Zim-Asset: Zimbabwe at work”, ‘’Siamese Twins: Operation, none but our ourselves” and “Devoted to the liberation cause”.
Maj-Gen Bandama is survived by his wife Florence, four children and a grandchild.
Online Reporter