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Liberation war hero Cde Caleb Koteni, who died after a short illness on Thursday was buried yesterday at Harare Provincial Heroes Acre.
Cde Koteni, whose Chimurenga name was ‘Karl Marx’, was described as a dedicated cadre who served the State and various organisations with dedication.
In a graveside speech, Ministry of State for Harare Province and Devolution deputy director, Mr Ignatius Mungure said he was born on 06 June 1967 at Mutsvangwa Village under Chief Ndima in Chimanimani District of Manicaland Province.
He passed on, on the 31st December 2021 at Dandaro Hospital.
“The late Cde Caleb Koteni was educated at Mutsvangwa Primary School up to Grade Three. He was forced to abandon his education career at a very tender age to join the liberation struggle in Mozambique in 1976.
Because of his young age, he was initially confined to a refugee camp until early 1979 when he was sent to Romania for military training.
On completion of his training, he returned to an independent Zimbabwe in 1981 and was attested into the Zimbabwe national army based at 3 Brigade in Mutare for a very short period as he was demobilised in late 1982.
“The late Cde Caleb Koteni decided to further his education at Danhiko College and he attained an Ordinary Level certificate after which he joined the then Zimbabwe Prison Service in 1988 stationed in Bindura.”
“Later he resigned in 1990 and joined the Harare Municipal Police as a patrol man where he worked until his untimely death”.
Mr Mungure said for his dedication and selfless service to the nation and the organisations, the late Cde Koteni was awarded the liberation war medal and the independence medal.
“He achieved the Liberation War Medal for his contribution during the liberation struggle and he is most appreciated for his commitment to the party, Government and to the department that he worked for.”
Family spokesperson Mr Newton Koteni said the late Cde Caleb Koteni was a family man and a great asset to the family
He is survived by a wife and three children.
Online Reporter