War hero Dube buried
LIBERATION war hero, Cde Mkhululi Dube, who died in Nkayi last Thursday, was buried yesterday at the Nkulumane Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Bulawayo. He was 56. Family spokesperson Mrs Irene Maphenduka said Cde Dube succumbed to kidney failure.
“We have lost a family pillar that we were not prepared to ready to part with. He died in Nkayi were he was working for the Public Service. The huge crowd here is a testimony to the type of man my uncle was,” she said.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo said Cde Dube was a war veteran who accepted and understood democracy without holding grudges.
“Cde Dube would rise through the party ranks and sometimes be demoted within the party systems but he never showed disgruntlement. He was a true professional. He didn’t have that mentality that many of us war vets have, that because we fought the war we are superior.
“I respected this man because he was different from many of us, war veterans. He was one person who had the ability to lead and be led, and for that, to me, he was a good leader,” she said.
Minister Moyo said she did not recall ever seeing such a big crowd at the provincial shrine. She said Cde Dube’s burial had taught her a big lesson.
“As his name Mkhululi says, he was a liberator by name and by deeds. This man was able to accommodate everyone and was never too busy for anyone. This can be seen through the different groups present today, which include churches, Zifa for sports, youths and the party,” said Minister Moyo.
Zanu-PF MP for Pelandaba-Mpopoma Cde Joseph Tshuma said Cde Dube was a humble, meek and loving person.
“In 2013, Cde Dube had an opportunity of being our constituency’s MP but instead he offered me that post and opted to be my chief election officer. Such humility is not possessed by many,” said MP Tshuma.
Cde Dube left the country in 1977 in the company of Cdes Morgan Dube and Benzangakhona Magutshwa to join the liberation struggle in Zambia through Francistown in Botswana.
He underwent military training in Angola in 1978 and was assigned to different missions by the party in Zambia starting in 1979. After ceasefire, he went to Gwayi assembly point.
At independence, he was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army as a non-commissioned officer and rose through the ranks to become a warrant officer class one, a position he held until the time of his retirement in 1997.
In 2001, he was appointed secretary for administration in Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province. From 2009 until his death, he was District Commissar for Zanu-PF Matshobana District.
Cde Dube is survived by his wife, six children and eight grandchildren. — @winnie_masara