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Cde Nyika Bara

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
War veteran and former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation producer Cde Nyika Bara has died.

He was 63.

Cde Bara died on Thursday after battling cancer of the prostate. His young brother Dr Manasseh Bara confirmed the death.

“We are saddened by the passing on of my brother. My brother fought in the liberation war for many years and taught comrades political ideology. He was an intelligent man who transformed Current Affairs programmes at ZBC and traversed the length and breadth of this country dealing with rural development issues,” he said.

His daughter Rumbidzai said the family had lost a pillar of strength.

“Our father died after collapsing at home. He had been in hospital for two weeks and was showing signs of improvement. He was our pillar of strength, a kind and cheerful man who was never shy to speak his mind,” she said.

Cde Bara is survived by four children and seven grandchildren. Mourners are gathered in Harare at 13 Riverhead Sentosa, Mabelreign. He was born on September 23, 1954 in Chikomba District in Chivhu. He did his Primary School Education at Kwenda Central Primary School from 1965 to 1969 and his Secondary School Education at Hatzel High School from 1970 to 1973.

Cde Bara joined the liberation struggle in 1974 before he completed his Advanced Level and received his first military training in Mozambique. He joined the war in 1975 and returned to Mozambique after he sustained injuries and was reassigned to teach political ideology.

From 1977 to 1978, Cde Bara was the political commissar for Chimoio and survived the Chimoio attack. From there he was posted to Dendera Assembly point in Mutoko were he continued to teach political ideology.

After independence, he went to Tanzania to further his education and was recalled home. He joined New Ziana as an accountant and later joined ZBC Mbare and Pockets Hill Current Affairs department as a producer.

After his retirement from ZBC, he went into farming until the time of his death.