Masvingo to name streets after war vets

Runesu Gwidi and Walter Mswazie in MASVINGO

MASVINGO City Council and the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) intend to honour liberation war luminaries from the province by naming streets in the new suburb of Clipsham Views after them, as the country readies to commemorate its 39th independence anniversary.

The new suburb was developed through IDBZ funding and council plans to honour icons like Dr Eddison Zvobgo, Retired Chief Air Marshal Josiah Tungamirai and decorated soldier Retired General Vitalis Musungwa Gava Zvinavashe.

IDBZ and Masvingo City have been lauded for their plans to honour eminent national heroes from the province.

The city’s department of Housing and Community Services is closely working with IDBZ on the full complement of luminaries to be honoured.

According to minutes of the Health, Housing and Environmental Committee meeting held on March 4 this year that were adopted at a full council meeting last week, Dr Zvobgo is on top of the list of heroes to be honoured.

Great Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo, who was Dr Zvobgo’s younger brother, said it would be an extreme honour for the Zvobgo family for the late national hero to continue to be recognised for the sterling work he did to help Zimbabwe discard the yoke of colonial tyranny.

“It’s a big privilege. The late Cde Zvobgo contributed immensely to the liberation struggle. The family wishes to extend its gratitude to both council and IDBZ for recognising the sterling political work done by Cde Zvobgo during his lifetime,” he said.

Dr Zvobgo died in August 2003 at the age of 68 ,while Rtd Chief Air Marshal Tungamirai passed on in August 2005. He was aged 56.

Rtd Gen Zvinavashe was Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. He breathed his last in March 2009 at the age of 65.

There are also plans by council to honour other heroes and heroines with other suggested names including national hero the late Cde Enos Mzombi Nkala, Cde Sheba Tavarwisa and others.

There have been previous calls to honour eminent heroes from the province, with the Muzenda family calling for statues to be erected in Masvingo city and Mpandawana in Gutu in honour of the late Vice President Dr Simon Muzenda who passed on in 2003 and was affectionately known as the “Soul of the Nation.’’

Meanwhile, Preparations for the 39th Independence celebrations in Masvingo slated for Mucheke Stadium on April 18, are at an advanced stage amid reports that the fundraising committee has mobilised about 60 percent of the targeted money.

Chairman of the State occasions, who is also Masvingo provincial administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, hailed stakeholders for donating towards the Independence Day celebrations saying the fundraising committee had covered a lot of ground.

He said Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira is expected to read President Mnangagwa’s speech on the day.

“By the look of things, I am sure we have the capacity as the committee, to surpass the target given the positive responses we are getting from stakeholders.

“Apart from money, we are already receiving some food items, which are not perishable, for storage. Meat will be coming a few days before the event.

“We are committed towards making the vent a resounding success,” he said.