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Prosper Dembedza Herald Reporter
Cde Peter Paradzi Manyani, a member of the Zanu High Command during the liberation struggle, has died. He was 84. Cde Manyani died on Monday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after a short illness. Born on March 10, 1930, Cde Manyani did his standard six in Chihota in Mashonaland East Province and completed a building course.

He taught in Chihota, worked as a clerk for a structural engineering company and later on worked at his father’s farm in the Chesa area of Mashonaland Central.

Cde Manyani became involved in politics in the 1960s and joined the armed struggle in 1972.
He stayed at Chesa in Mt Darwin until recruitment by Cde Joseph Khumalo, (Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Joel Muzhamba), together with other members of the Group of 45 who launched the second phase of the Second Chimurenga in 1972. They crossed into Zambia through Musengezi River on foot.

During the war, he interacted and worked with the likes of the late Cdes Mayor Urimbo, Vitalis Zvinavashe, Herbert Chitepo, Josiah Magama Tongogara, Josiah Tungamirai and Rex Nhongo in the High Command and Zanu Central Committee.

He did his initial military training at Chifombo in 1972 before proceeding to Mgagao in Tanzania in 1974.
During the period of détente, Cde Manyani stayed in Zambia from March to September 1975 and in that year he and other comrades were arrested by Zambian authorities on allegations assassinating Cde Chitepo. On being released in 1975, they crossed into Mozambique where he helped establish the camps at Chimoio and Nyadzonya as well as Zanla’s headquarters in that country.

After 1980, Cde Manyani was seconded to Zanu-PF’s department of the Commissariat and Culture, where he worked with Cdes Maurice Nyagumbo and Nelson Mawema. He was assigned to collect the remains of Mbuya Mazviona Kawanzaruva, the spirit medium of Mbuya Nehanda, from Chifombo and take them to Kajokoto in Muzarabani in 1983.

Cde Manyani is survived by his wife Philda (Nee Tunha) 10 children, and 32 grandchildren.
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.