War vet collapses, dies during workshop

The workshop was held at the Better Schools Programme of Zimbabwe at Tsholotsho centre on Friday.
Cde John Mpofu died of heart failure after a long battle with a heart problem.
He was 53.

Cde Mpofu, a former freedom fighter, was conferred liberation war hero status by the Bulawayo province.
However, his family requested that he be buried at his homestead in Brunapeg in Mangwe district of Matabeleland South Province tomorrow.
Bulawayo provincial administrator in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), Cde Bonifas Ndlovu, said the death of Cde Mpofu was a huge blow to the organisation and the gap left by him would be difficult to fill.

“We were shocked to hear of the  sudden death of Cde Mpofu. He was a beacon to all of us in the organisation as he showed respect for others and gave good advice,” he said.
Cde Ndlovu said the custodians of the history of Zimbabwe such as Cde Mpofu were dying and there was a need for the history to be captured.
“The history of the nation lies with such people as Cde Mpofu. It has to be told to the youths so that they appreciate where the country came from,” he said.

Cde Ndlovu said Cde Mpofu deserved the hero status conferred on him as he was a hard worker and was instrumental in the war of liberation.
Cde Mpofu’s sister-in-law, Ms Musa Ncube, said his death had left the family without a father figure who gave sound advice.
Cde Mpofu was born on 10 August 1958 at St Annes Mission Hospital in Mangwe. He grew up in Brunapeg and upon completing his junior certificate in 1974, he joined the liberation struggle in Zambia at Nampundu transit camp.

In 1975, he underwent military training as a medic for eight months, which made him an asset in treating freedom fighters who were injured during the war.
In 1977, he was deployed into Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia, to fight settler forces.

Cde Mpofu operated in areas such as Hwange covering Chachanjunza, Deka and Mwemba. When the ceasefire was declared in 1979 he went to Mike Assembly Point in Lupane.
Cde Mpofu was transferred to Entumbane urban camp. After independence, he  was an active member in the youth wing  of PF-Zapu in Tsholotsho district. This  was after he had completed his training  as a nurse.

In 1985, he married his wife Nkosilathi Ndlovu. In 1987 after the Unity Accord was signed by PF-Zapu and Zanu-PF to form the united Zanu-PF, Cde Mpofu was elected as the district secretary for ward three in Tsholotsho.

In 2000 he became the treasurer of the district for two five-year terms.
He was in charge of security in the district for Zanu-PF at the time of his death.

His wife Nkosilathi and five children survive him.
Mourners are gathered number 7133/20 Pumula North in Bulawayo.