George Rutanhire: Commissar par excellence
Cde Rutanhire was a traditionalist and nationalist politician who was above regional, tribal and class politics. He was a reservoir of liberation history with strong conviction of how the spiritual beliefs and force enabled the liberation movement to defeat the brutal racist Ian Smith regime.
WHILE I had previously heard that George Rutanhire was one of the pioneer freedom fighters on the Zanla side where he rose through the ranks to be a member of the General Staff, was in post-independence Zimbabwe an MP for Mt Darwin and also deputy minister in the 1980s, I first met him in September of 2001.
Having been the chairman of the University of Zimbabwe ZANU-PF branch, together with other executive members that included Donald Muyengwa, Gumisai Makamwe, Mathias Muzawazi, Dumisani Shiku, Harubvi Zvenyika, Rumbidzai Mandudzo and others, we had been deployed by the party to pioneer the National Youth Service upon completion of our studies in August of the same year.
Against the backdrop of the esteemed and vast experience of Cde Rutanhire it was a lifetime privilege and honour to be part of the team of national orientation instructors, much as it was amazing to be at the same level with such a liberation icon. But he was a very simple, automotive, humble and inspirational leader.
Cde Rutanhire was a traditionalist and nationalist politician who was above regional, tribal and class politics. He was a reservoir of liberation history with strong conviction of how the spiritual beliefs and force enabled the liberation movement to defeat the brutal racist Ian Smith regime.
The National Youth Service started without a legal framework and budget from central Government. Cde Rutanhire, being a reputable local, was instrumental in mobilising business people in Mt Darwin and other stakeholders to make the donations towards food and other necessities. His commissariat background and knowledge of the liberation struggle was equally valuable in writing the curriculum for the programme and in his discharge of duties as a senior national orientation instructor.
The team that Cde Rutanhire and ZANU-PF commissariat department established for the Chitepo Ideological College will agree that he was a passionate unifier. Again his humility would see him champion programmes and workshops across the country with very limited resources. Even when he was in hospital he would express his eagerness to have His Excellency President Mugabe official launch the school and the land and other resources for what he believed was the backbone of the party.
Cde Rutanhire, up to the time of his death, remained a dedicated and loyal cadre of the party. In promotion or demotion within the ranks of ZANU-PF or in Government, he remained principled and focused on the ideology of the liberation struggle premised on the socialist ideal of equality and equitable distribution of resources. Not surprisingly, President Mugabe and the Politburo appointed him to be the director of the Herbert Chitepo Ideological College.
Due to our long-standing relationship and respect for meritocracy in the interest of rejuvenation of commissariat work in ZANU-PF, I was humbled to be appointed as one of the resource persons of the Chitepo Ideological College. On behalf of all those who were mentored by Cde Rutanhire, I say go well selfless gallant son of the soil. We will uphold your values and aspirations as we take a revolution to a higher level.
Godwin Mureriwa is a political analyst and resource person for Chitepo Ideological College.