Col Mabuya declared national hero
LIBERATION war stalwart Colonel (Retired) Kenny Ridzai Mabuya, who died on Tuesday, has been declared a national hero in recognition of his sterling contribution during the liberation struggle that saw Zimbabwe attain its independence in 1980.
Col Mabuya, whose Chimurenga name was Kenny Ridzai, died at West End Hospital in Harare after a short illness.
Last Saturday, Vice President Kembo Mohadi visited him at West Hospital.
Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also Zanu PF Chairman, yesterday visited Tynwald South in Harare, where mourners are gathered and conveyed the message that Col Mabuya had been declared a national hero.
She said President Mnangagwa, together with everyone in the party and Government, were satisfied that Col Mabuya should be declared a national hero owing to his contribution before and after independence.
Burial arrangements will now be agreed on between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and the family of Col Mabuya.
“We were assigned by His Excellency, the President on behalf of the party and the Government to convey a message to the Mabuya family that the party has decided to confer a national hero status on our late Colonel Mabuya,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
“The party considers a number of attributes before conferring such an honourable status, tracing the history, contribution of an individual not necessarily in the revolution in the sense of the war, but other categories that were added.
“In this particular case, we traced the history of Cde Ridzai, who joined the struggle at a very tender age, when he was in Form 2 when the family had relocated to Zambia.” ◆ Full story on www.herald.co.zw