Live blog: Burial of Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Mtandwa Chirenda (Retired)

January 9, 2014

Live blog: Burial of Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Mtandwa Chirenda (Retired)

1243: Cde Chirenda has been buried.

1203: To Cde Chirenda I say go well, go well our outstanding freedom fighter, rest in peace son of the soil. With that she ends her speech.

1202: “Recently I met with a team of young people, who said Zim Asset leaves out two key areas…Information Technology, Banking and Finance Services sector…We certainly must give thought to such feedback.”

Acting President Joice Mujuru addressing the mourners-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

1200: “Zim Asset is a call to you and me, to all of us Zimbabweans to put shoulder to wheel, to sweat a bit and grow our economy for the benefit of our people.”

1158: “This is how generations inspire one another..how national identity is forged…he lives a rich set of values.”

1156: “Our history has no tellers, we need to change history by writing it, we need to begin now”

1155: “We have not written our story, we are brave but mute heroes, we have not narrated our stories to this generation. Our stories are buried away with us. Unless the spoke when the lived, dead comrades don’t tell stories.”

1153: She says “As I look at Cde Chirenda lying still in that casket….I see part of the pain which marked its birth…above all I see the courage and dedication that was needed to make history…to sire a new African country we now call Zimbabwe.”

1152: Cde Mujuru: Yes, his heroic deeds speak to us from inside the country.

1151: Acting President Joice Mujuru says Cde Chirenda’s death leaves a void felt well beyond his family.

1117: Cde Sydney Sekeramayi is addressing the gathering.

1103: The body of Cde Chirenda has arrived at National Heroes Acre. Acting President Mujuru has arrived.

Acting President Mujuru arrives at the National Heroes Acre-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

The body being taken to the tomb of the unknown soldier-Pic by Elita Chikwati

1009: Body viewing led by Acting President Mujuru.

Acting President Mujuru pay her final respects-Pic by Elita Chikwati

1007: Acting President Joice Mujuru has arrived.

Zanu-PF Politburo member and Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Oppah Muchinguri at the National Heroes Acre-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

1005: Service Chiefs have arrived at Stodart Hall.

Service Chiefs at Stodart Hall-Pic by Elita Chikwati

0948: Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived.

An unidentified man holds an portrait of Cde Chirenda-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

0940: Cdes Rugare Gumbo and David Parirenyatwa have arrived at Stodart Hall in Mbare.

Zanu-PF Harare province political commissar in the Women's League Cde Susan Chuma in a colourful sun hat at the National Heroes Acre-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

Zanu-PF Harare province political commissar in the Women’s League Cde Susan Chuma at the National Heroes Acre-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

0928: Meanwhile, some of Cde Chirenda’s relatives are already at the National Heroes Acre.

Some of Cde Chirenda’s relatives at the national shrine-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

Some members of the Apostolic sects join other mourners at the National Heroes Acre-Pic by Lloyd Gumbo

0927: Cdes Amos Midzi, Mabel Chinamona, Tendai Savanhu, Webster Shamu, Sydney Sekeramayi and Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni have arrived at Stodart Hall in Mbare, Harare.