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Sydney Mubaiwa in Zaka
The late zanu-pf Central Committee member and Bikita East Member of Parliament Cde Kennedy Matimba, who died last week, was buried on Saturday at his rural home in Buhera. Cde Matimba died at Makurira Memorial Clinic in Masvingo after a short illness. He was 66.

He was conferred with provincial hero status in recognition of the role he played in the development of Zimbabwe mainly after independence.

Hundreds of mourners thronged Matimba Village to pay their last respects to the Bikita East legislator, who many described as a loyal and straight-forward zanu-pf cadre who dedicated his life to the development of the country.

In their eulogies, most speakers extolled Cde Matimba’s virtues and described him as a humble servant of the people who left many footprints of development in Bikita and the entire Masvingo province.

Addressing mourners, zanu- pf chief whip and Politburo member Cde Lovemore Matuke said Cde Matimba’s death left a huge void that will be difficult to fill within zanu-pf in Masvingo and the country at large.

“The death of Cde Matimba is a big loss to the Matimba family, Bikita community, Masvingo province and the nation at large. I have been sent by President Mnangagwa with a message of condolence to the Matimba family,’’ said Cde Matuke.

‘’Cde Matimba was a reliable person when it came to representing the people. He worked hard during and after the liberation struggle, he had the people at his heart. We thank him for the job he did for the country. His wish was to see Bikita developing further.’’ He said Cde Matimba was not only in the ruling party to make up numbers, but was a proponent of development programmes that benefited ordinary people. Cde Matimba also played a key role in Parliament, where Cde Matuke said he was a member of various parliamentary portfolio committees.

In his address, zanu-pf Masvingo provincial chairman Cde Ezra Chadzamira said the legislature had been robbed of a tireless servant of the people who was development-oriented.

“As Zimbabweans, we should learn from people like the late Cde Matimba who in his own mind was only focused on development. We should never forget the immense contribution made by Cde Matimba and other struggle heroes who put their lives on the line for Zimbabwe to attain political freedom,” he said.

Family spokesperson, who is also a sister to the late Cde Matimba, Miss Clara Matimba also described her brother as a unifier and pillar of strength to the family.

“We have lost a pillar of the family, his loss is a blow to the Matimba family and he will be greatly missed,” she said.
Cde Matimba was the first chairperson for Bikita Rural District Council and the first president of the Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe.

He was a zanu-pf Central Committee member for 20 years. Cde Matimba was first elected Bikita East Member of Parliament in 2005. Present at the funeral was the Member of Parliament for Buhera West constituency Cde Oliver Mandipaka, among others. Cde Matimba is survived by his wife Senzia and four children.