Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure
THE ZANU PF branch in the United Kingdom has written to the party leadership seeking hero status for Cde John Takaendesa Ushe, who died on May 6, in London due to ill health.
He is widely regarded as the longest-serving employee at all of Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions as he worked at the Embassy in the UK from 1980.
He joined the Zanu PF London Branch in the mid-1970s and served under the then Chief Representative of the party, Ambassador Frederick Shava.
Cde Ushe supported the liberation war against colonialism as a young man through resource mobilisation across the UK and Europe alongside Dr Simba Makoni, who was responsible for representing the party in Western Europe, working closely with Ambassador Shava.
In 1979, Cde Ushe served the party and the country during the Lancaster House Conference that resulted in Zimbabwe attaining Independence.
He was eventually entrusted with the security and caretaking role of the Zimbabwe House Embassy, The Strand in London, when it was officially opened in November/December of 1981 under the first High Commissioner to the UK, Cde Robert Zwinoira.
Cde Ushe served the Zimbabwe Embassy in the UK for 44 years in his official capacity and one year as its custodian as it awaited official opening, totalling 45 years of dedicated, patriotic service.
Zanu PF UK District chairman Cde Xavier Zavare confirmed his death, saying Cde Ushe was “arguably the longest-serving employee ever across all Zimbabwean Missions worldwide.”
“Every Ambassador, Government official who worked in London had their induction to Zimbabwe House and UK life from him,” said Cde Zavare.
Cde Ushe was an active member of Zanu PF UK District, which he supported as an advisor, and guided members on the values and ideology of the party.
He championed the revival of party structures in the United Kingdom using his experience from the party’s activities in the 70s, leading to Zanu PF UK structures being resurrected in 2012.
Cde Ushe was born on September 17, 1945 in Chivhu, Mashonaland East.
He attended Tegwani school before migrating to Europe in search of further education in the early 1970s.
He briefly settled in the Netherlands, taking up studies at Argo University.
This is the period he was recruited into Zanu PF structures as the party was reaching out to all Zimbabweans, home and away, to resume the liberation struggle which had been ‘paused’ by Henry Kissinger’s Détente policy.
He was later moved to the United Kingdom, joining cadres such as Ambassador Shava, who was the Chief representative of Zanu PF in the UK and party chairman London Branch.
The loyal cadre continued to support and mobilise resources for the revolution even as he was undertaking studies for a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering at Northeast London Polytechnic.
