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A casket bearing the body of the late Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Mr Killian Mupingo, being lowered into the grave while his two children Tafadzwa and Barbra (far right) and mourners look on in Nyazura yesterday. — Picture By Innocent Makawa

From Innocent Ruwende in NYAZURA—
Secretary for Local Government Public Works and National Housing Mr Killian Mupingo, who died last Thursday, was buried at his farm in Nyazura yesterday. He was declared a liberation hero. Speakers described Mr Mupingo as a dedicated and upright civil servant. Local Government Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said his late permanent secretary was a selfless person who worked hard for the public good.

“Mupingo was like my young brother. From the time he joined the civil service he never worked under any other minister other than myself,” he said. “During the time he was sick he did not delegate his duties to his subordinates but continued working hard till his death.”

Dr Chombo said Mr Mupingo did not own a house in Harare until four years ago. “He could have allocated himself many stands, but he did not do that,” said Dr Chombo.

Manicaland Minister of State Christopher Mushohwe, who was in the same class with Mr Mupingo at Africa University, described the liberation hero as a hard worker.
“He has left a void that Government, his work colleagues and the nation will find difficult to replace. He was a gallant and luminary son of Zimbabwe who played an instrumental role in ensuring that the land reform became a success when he was provincial administrator for Manicaland.

“We were set to graduate together with Masters degrees in Peace and Governance next month,” he said.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who hails from the same home area as Mr Mupingo, weighed in saying: “He was an efficient and effective leader who was results-oriented. During the time of his illness he did not want people to know of his ailment because he did not want to worry people.

“As a provincial administrator he allocated us land and I asked him why he did not allocate himself and he said he would give himself last,” said Minister Chinamasa.
Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman Ambassador John Mvundura thanked President Mugabe and the ruling party for conferring liberation hero status on Mr Mupingo.
Also at the burial were other ministers, service chiefs, chairpersons of rural district councils and the business community.

Mr Mupingo was born in Rugoyi and did Advanced Level at Goromonzi High School, before proceeding to the University of Zimbabwe where he studied for a Bachelor of Administration Honours degree.