Chronicle Editor
Ashley Phiri, [email protected]
TWO liberation struggle stalwarts Ndumo Michael Gumbo and Aaron Dube, both from Mangwe District, have been declared liberation war heroes.
Cde Dube, who died on Thursday last week, was buried at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Nkulumane, while Cde Gumbo, who died last Wednesday in South Africa, will be buried on Saturday at his rural home in Khalanyoni village under Chief Hobodo in Mangwe District.
Cde Gumbo was born on January 24, 1953 and did his primary education at Maninji Primary School and left for the struggle via Botswana in 1977.
At Independence, he joined the Zimbabwe National Army and retired in 1985, after which he became a successful farmer.
Cde Dube was born on August 22, 1965, in Brunapeg and attended school in Mangwe District.
He joined the struggle in Zambia in 1978. After Independence, he worked at different companies and later retired to venture into full-time farming.
In a statement, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Cde Jabulani Sibanda, said Cde Gumbo trained at Nampundu Camp.
“After completing his military training, he was deployed to Papa Mashumbi in Manicaland Province and later moved to Gwayi in Matabeleland North. At Independence, Cde Gumbo joined the Zimbabwe National Army and served as a private in Mount Darwin until his retirement in 1985,” said Cde Sibanda.
He said Cde Gumbo spent his retirement at his homestead in Khalanyoni as a successful farmer supplying the community with vegetables.
Cde Dube first trained at JZ Camp and later at Nampundu, Mayera Mkushi and Mulungushi.
“After Independence, Cde Dube worked as a foreman at Mushroom and West Wind where he rose through the ranks to assistant manager. He left the company in 2002 when it shut down and joined Homeguard Security Company before retiring a year later and ventured into full-time farming,” said Cde Sibanda
Cde Dube is survived by wife Prisca Nsingo, eight children and 15 grandchildren.
Online Reporter