Zanu-PF mourns one of its founding members

Mudzimurema in Chihota on Thursday.

Addressing mourners at number 36 Phiri Way in Mbare last night, Minister of State Security in the President’s Office Sydney Sekeramayi said he received with shock the death of Cde Chirenje.

Minister Sekeramayi, who knew Cde Chirenje since childhood and during his tenure in Government, described him as a role model and an honest character.
“Development was in his mind, family and the nation,” Cde Sekeramayi said.

He said Cde Chirenje went to study outside the country and while he was there, he worked together with other Zimbabweans to contribute cash and kind for the development of the party.

“We have lost one of us. We would always run to him when we needed advice because of his vast experience,” Minister Sekeramayi said.

Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, who accompanied Minister Sekeramayi, also described the late Cde Chirenje as a dedicated and unwavering cadre who contributed immensely to the liberation struggle.

Ms Magadzire, wife of the late Cde Chirenje, described her husband as a unifier, caring and loving husband.

She said his contribution to the family would always be remembered since he assisted many family members to attain different qualifications in various fields of study in and outside the country.

“He assisted most of his family members to go and pursue various fields of study ranging from medicine, civil aviation, leadership among others,” she said.

Cde Chirenje was one of Zanu-PF’s founding members in 1963 and was one of the refugees who went to Tanganyika, now Tanzania, in 1964.

He was chosen by the then OAU Liberation Committee to go and study finance and administration in the United States of America where he continued to support the party back home by mobilising resources for the freedom fighters in various countries.

At independence, he became the director of finance for the Development Finance Corporation. He was then transferred to the Transport Ministry where he became the first black deputy director for civil aviation.

Later on, he was transferred to the Defence Ministry where he assumed the post of deputy secretary for finance and procurement.

In his early years he taught at Tendayi Primary School in Mufakose where Cde Cephas Msipa was school head. He also worked with Cdes Josiah and Ruth Chinamano where they were teachers.