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Fungai Lupande

Mashonaland Central Bureau

Liberation war hero, Cde Moses Shambakumanja, who died on Monday after a short illness was yesterday laid to rest at his Trio Farm in Shamva.

Cde Shambakumanja, whose Chimurenga name was Teddy Mayikita, died at Shashi Hospital in Bindura aged 61.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Monica Mavhunga consoled the family and urged Cde Shambakumanja’s widow, Leseli, to be strong and to look after the family.

Senator Mavhunga, who lost her husband Dominic in September last year, said losing a husband was a painful experience.

“We remember the late comrade as a son of the soil who fought together with other gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe,” she said. “Their fight was to see Zimbabwe free from the bondage of colonialism.

“He was elected provincial chairperson of war veterans in 2009 and initiated programmes that encouraged freedom fighters to go back to school. The programmes were aimed at uplifting and improving the welfare of war veterans.

“We remember him for his unwavering support on all developmental programmes. He was instrumental in ensuring that war vets got their fair share of the land. He died at a time the country is enjoying the fruits of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme.”

Senator Mavhunga urged people to emulate the late Cde Shambakumanja and work towards the attainment of an upper middle income economy by 2030.

Most heroes and heroines in Mashonaland Central are having to be buried on their farms because of the poor state of the provincial heroes acre.

Provincial War Veterans chairperson Cde Sam Parirenyatwa said heroes acres were not being maintained and were in bad state, prompting families of late heroes or heroines to shun them.

“Another challenge we are facing is the late payment of allowances to cover expenses of war veterans’ funerals,” he said. “Some funerals are rushed and miserable because of lack of resources.”

Born on March 10, 1959 in Kawara village in Mt Darwin under Chief Dotito, Cde Shambakumanja joined the liberation struggle in 1978 after failing to write his Grade Seven examinations because of the war.

He operated in Mozambique’s Tete Province and in Rushinga until the ceasefire in 1979.

Cde Shambakumanja was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army in October 1980 and retired in 1995.

He is survived by six children and 10 grandchildren.