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zanu-pf National Political Commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere consoles Mrs Gladys Kanengoni, (centre) wife of war veteran and writer Cde Alexander Kanengoni and sister Nancy Chimanzi (right) at their family home in Harare’s Warren Park D suburb yesterday. — Picture by Memory Mangombe

Lovemore Mataire and Freeman Razemba—
Condolence messages for internationally-acclaimed author, ex-combatant and deputy editor of The Patriot newspaper, Cde Alexander Gora Kanengoni who died on Tuesday continued to pour in yesterday describing him as a stalwart of the liberation struggle. In a statement, the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-Political Detainees and Restrictees, yesterday mourned Cde Kanengoni, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Gora.

“The Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-Political Detainees and Restrictees Honourable Tshinga Judge Dube, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Brigadier-General (Retired) Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, Principal Directors Major-General (retired) Richard Ruwodo, Brigadier-General Chancellor Diye and Brigadier-General James Murozvi, Senior Management and Staff of the Ministry, learnt with profound shock and sadness of the sudden and untimely passing on of Comrade Alexander Kanengoni, at his home in Warren Park, Harare, on 12th April, 2016. He suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes and succumbed to a suspected heart attack after complaining of chest pains since Monday 11th April, 2016,” reads part of the statement.

Cde Kanengoni distinguished himself in various positions he held throughout the struggle in a manner which his unfortunate brush with authority during the Vashandi Saga in 1977 did nothing to sway his unwavering commitment to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, its nationalistic ideals and Zanu-PF’s ideology.

Cde Kanengoni became a writer of international renown through his books — Vicious Circle (1983), When the Rainbird Cries (1988), Echoing Silences (1997), a short story collection titled Effortless Tears (1993) and Writing Still (2003).

“On behalf of the entire fraternity of War Veterans of the Struggle for the Liberation of Zimbabwe and on our own behalf as Ministry, we wish to express our deepest heartfelt condolences to the Kanengoni family. We wish to condole, especially, with his widow Gladys and his children, Tawanda, Elizabeth, Josephine, Tinashe and Litisha, as well as his grandchildren.

“To them we say, your loss is not yours alone. Alexander was bigger than his family. He is a son of the soil and a child of the nation. We are with you in your grief.”

Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere who is also the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri yesterday paid their condolences to his family at his Warren Park home in Harare.

“As Mashonaland Central province, we are devastated by the loss of a gallant son and hero. He worked tirelessly for the country and the party. We once worked with him in the department of indigenisation for some time. We would like to send our condolence message to the Kanengoni family for the loss of a gallant son,” he said.

Dr Chihuri was accompanied by Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba and other senior police officers. Senior Assistant Commissioners Justice Chengeta and Angeline Guvamombe also visited the Kanengoni family. The acting Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira said words alone could not express the extent of the pain and sorrow that those in the communication industry felt with the death of Cde Kanengoni.

“As a communicator and a writer, he had set high ethical, professional and aesthetic standards for the industry. What sets him apart from his peers was his deep grounding in the liberation struggle which imparted a sense of patriotic commitment to his craft.

“For him, the country came first before the pen. In fact, it was an instrument of liberation of continuing with the struggle only in the mental domain,” said Cde Mandiwanzira.

Cde Mandiwanzira said the industry and nation as a whole had lost a serious political analyst and commentator on current affairs. The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairperson, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa described him as an astute cadre who also encouraged his siblings to join the liberation war.

“The smart brains that Alexander Kanengoni (had), delved into revolutionary theory. Chitepo Ideological College found in him a good student and conscientious party cadre. He was among the first crop of recruitees inducted into the school,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

Cde Mutsvangwa said he first met Cde Kanengoni at Kutama College where he excelled as a volleyball player. The two were later to meet again in the guerilla recruitment camps at Chimoio in Mozambique.

“On his insistence, he was also joined by a sibling Cde Bhudhi Kenya who I had the opportunity to share field combat experience in the Nyanga, Chikore, Tanda and Chendambuya war zone. Luckily, both of them survived the human sausage machine, horrendous carnage meted out by the fascist and racist forces of a cornered white minority regime,” Cde Mutsvangwa said.

Cde Mutsvangwa said prosecution of the war required thorough mastery of political theory as Rhodesia knew its act of war well, which needed to be overcome by both ZANLA and ZIPRA at mental level. He said the war was as much physical as it was a mind game.

“His enduring contribution lies in his literary endeavours. His books are a living testament to the Chimurenga struggle. He is a trailblazer in the same vein as Tichaona Freedom and Ton Sadomba. Posterity is all the richer. We need more of that. There is no taxing fit as people in the armed struggle for the bible cause of freedom,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

The University of Zimbabwe English Department Creative Writing Press Club where he was a regular guest presenter, said Cde Kanengoni was a mentor, a source of inspiration, not only as a literary figure, but as a protective father who fought in a war whose fruits are now being enjoyed by all Zimbabweans.

“In our minds and hearts, we will never forget the effect of his presence. The African masculine bearing that signified power and strength, the warm smile that revealed a gentle and fatherly spirit,” said Brain Madongonda, the club’s chairperson.

Madongonda said the University of Zimbabwe English Department Creative Writing Press Club gained a lot from his expertise as a writer and also his experiences as a liberation fighter.

Veteran journalist Brian Mangwende who worked with Kanengoni said he was saddened with the death of Cde Kanengoni after meeting him recently when they reminisced about their days at the now defunct Zimbabwe Mirror Newspapers Group.

“I gave him a column during our time, we called Mapapu Speaks and it attracted a huge following at the time.

“He was a pleasant man with a deep voice that turned heads in corridors,” Mangwende said.