adminNokuthaba Mathema Chronicle Reporter
WAR veterans deputy chairperson for district two covering Entumbane and Emakhandeni in Bulawayo, Cde Wilberforce Mguni has died. Cde Mguni, who died at the age of 61 on Friday last week at his home in Entumbane was buried yesterday at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre in Nkulumane.
He had been ill for some time.
Addressing mourners Zanu-PF Central Committee member Alderman David Ndlovu described Cde Mguni as a hardworking and selfless man who fought tirelessly in the war of liberation.
“Cde Mguni left at a time when most people in the country are ideologically bankrupt because they do not know why the liberation struggle was fought.
“The challenge that we have is to continue with the work and efforts that Cde Mguni fought for during the war of independence and make sure that we do not go back to colonisation,” said Ald Ndlovu.
War veterans acting chairman for Bulawayo province Cde Japhet Phuthi said the association had lost a brave and dedicated cadre.
Brother and family spokesperson Mr Clement Mguni said the family had lost a father, a role model and a peacemaker and thanked the Government for declaring Cde Mguni a liberation war hero.
Cde Mguni was born on 2 June 1952 at Fort Rixon in Kwekwe district and did his primary education at Zinyangeni Primary School in Nkayi.
In 1969, he worked at DConally and Company for six years.
In 1975, Cde Mguni joined the liberation struggle in Zambia under Zipra and was selected to go and train in guerilla warfare under the first group, Company Eleven in Angola at Mboma.
Between 1978 and 1979, Cde Mguni operated in Hurungwe in Mashonaland West Province before he was called back to Zambia.
Cde Mguni was then sent to Soviet Union now Russia where he did a company commander’s course.
After independence, Cde Mguni worked at Monarch and left the company in 2009.
He is survived by a wife, four children and two grandchildren.
Online Reporter