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Chronicle Reporter
ZANU-PF yesterday sent condolences to the family of national hero and former Cabinet Minister Cde Kumbirai Kangai.
In a statement, Zanu-PF National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the revolutionary party was shocked by the death of Cde Kangai.
“The untimely demise of your dear husband, the late Cde Kumbirai Kangai on Saturday, 24 August 2013 was received with devastating shock by all of us in the Zanu-PF revolutionary party. The family has been robbed of a beacon, Zanu-PF has lost a solid stalwart and Zimbabwe is without its unflinching servant and mankind is poorer by his absence,” he said.
Cde Khaya Moyo said a day before his death, Cde Kangai had participated candidly in the deliberations of the Zanu-PF Politburo showing no signs that he would bid farewell the following day.
He described Cde Kangai as a fearless leader, brave and courageous man who survived many battles and attempts on his life by the Rhodesians.
“Cde KK as some of us called him was a principled cadre of the revolution, a fearless leader, a man of courage, a man of impeccable liberation war credentials, a jovial character with a measured smile and indeed a man of great humility. He was never a weathercock. Valiant all the time,” he said.
Cde Kangai was one of the founding members of Zanu when it was formed in 1963 and was a member of Dare ReChimurenga formed in the early 1970s to spearhead the armed struggle.
After independence, Cde Kangai held various posts in Government.
He was the first Labour and Social Services Minister and went on to serve as the Minister of Industry and Commerce before being appointed Minister of Lands and Agriculture.
Cde Kangai’s body is lying in state at One Commando and it will be flown to his rural home in Buhera and Mutare on Friday.
Cde Kangai collapsed at his home on Saturday morning and was rushed to Corporate 24 Medical Clinic in Harare where he later died from a suspected heart attack.
He is survived by wife Miriam, 12 children and several grand children.
Online Reporter