Herald Reporter
THE Politburo yesterday posthumously declared the late Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Chilisi Buka Ngwenya a national hero.

Cde Ngwenya, whose Chimurenga names were Elliot Mnyamane or Black Swine, died on Christmas Day last year and was buried in Plumtree.

Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said Cde Ngwenya, who was born in 1948, was a courageous fighter who contributed immensely to the liberation of the country.

“Due to some difficulties, it has taken a bit long, but we have finally unanimously declared him a national hero.

“He was an astute cadre of the revolution and a great tactician and intelligence officer,” he said.

Cde Moyo said Cde Ngwenya was captured and tortured by the Ian Smith regime towards the end of the war.
“He was captured towards the end of the war and tortured severely. His stomach was ripped open and we actually thought he had died.

“He, however, survived and was released from jail at independence,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.
Cde Ngwenya was attested into the the Zimbabwe National Army and rose through the ranks to become a  lieutenant-colonel, up to the time he retired in 1995.
He is survived by his wife and four children.

The Politburo also discussed a number of issues, including the status of two former members who intend to rejoin the party. The two are former Masvingo provincial chairman Daniel Shumba and Goodwill Shiri from the Midlands.

Cde Shumba left Zanu-PF when he formed the United People’s Party in 2006, while Cde Shiri contested the 2005 parliamentary elections as an independent after he failed to win the Zanu-PF candidacy for Mberengwa.

Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo said the Politburo resolved that the two had to rejoin the party as ordinary card-carrying members.
“A number of issues came up, but the two major issues were that of Daniel Shumba and Goodwill Shiri.

“The Politburo reiterated that Daniel Shumba is not a member of Zanu-PF since he expelled himself when he formed his party.
“He cannot be admitted into the party without first disbanding his party and make a public statement to that effect together with his national executive,” he said.

Cde Gumbo said Cde Shumba will then have to apply to rejoin the party starting from the grassroots.
“The same applies to Cde Shiri. He has to go through the same procedure starting from the cell.”
Cde Gumbo said the meeting also discussed the ongoing District Co-ordinating Committee elections.