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The late Dr Pswarayi

Herald Reporter
Former Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare and former Member of Parliament for Mbare Dr Edward Munatsireyi Pswarayi who died in Harare on Sunday was buried at his Beatrice farm yesterday.Dr Pswarayi, who was 87, was given a State-assisted funeral.

Speakers described Dr Pswarayi as a dedicated and upright civil servant who worked tirelessly for the liberation of Zimbabwe.

Harare Metropolitan Province Senator and Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Cleveria Chizema said Dr Pswarayi missed out on a chance of being declared a liberation war hero because he was inconsistent after the liberation struggle.

She said Zanu-PF Harare province wanted him to be declared a liberation war hero, but he failed to land that status after it emerged that he ceased participating in party activities when he left Government.

“I have to make that point very clear why Dr (Pswarayi) was not declared a liberation war hero for any relative or members of the party,” she said.  “The criteria used in conforming someone hero status is that you have to be consistent with the party.

“Nothing amiss happened, he was just not declared both liberation war hero or provincial hero because of his history with the party. Dr Pswarayi did not reach where the party wanted him to be, but as the party, we are pained by his death because he was the first Mbare Member of Parliament and he later became the deputy Minister of Health.”

Dr Pswarayi’s wife, Mabel, said her husband participated immensely in the liberation struggle.

“He travelled back and forth between Zimbabwe and Zambia holding secret meetings to strategise on how to execute the liberation struggle,” she said.

Harare province chairman Cde Amos Midzi said party members were pained by the death of Dr Pswarayi and President Mugabe on behalf of the party sent condolence messages and approved a State-assisted funeral.

Dr Pswarayi is survived by 19 children, 36 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.