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1024: We are at Heroes’ Acre for the triple burial ceremony for Former Prisoner Boss Commissioner General Paradzai Zimondi, Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr SB Moyo and Former Transport Minister Dr JB Matiza.

1025: Before admission into the national shrine, everyone who will be actively part of the proceedings has to undergo a Rapid Antigen test and basic screening. Those who are testing positive or exhibiting symptoms are not being granted entry, but instead referred to go for further testing and management.

1026: The few who have managed to attend are sitting in accordance with social distancing guidelines, with an average of 1.5 metres between people.

1034: The bodies of the late heroes have arrived.

1120: Acting President Constantino Chiwenga has arrived and has entered the procession with Service Chiefs and Cabinet Ministers.

1125: Sikhanyiso Moyo, a family representative from the Moyo family has taken to the podium.

1125: He says the late Minister SB Moyo has gone to soon.

1125: He says, despite the pain of the loss, they are grateful that they managed to live with a high achiever, who was principled and successful in unlocking doors.

1130: “SB Moyo’s bravery was evident from childhood. Our father tells a story that when SB was in Grade 7, he was he complained of a teacher who are strict and many dropped the subject. He had a discussion with father and when he was asked how he is faring, he said ku Maths kwangosara isu vezvivindi.”

1130: He says SB Moyo was a good husband to his wife, he was not threatened by his wife’s achievements.

1130: “Our brother was a fighter who never gave up on life. He never showed pain nor fear, even when he was sick.’

1130: “Baba’s dreams of seeing his son become a medical doctor were shattered in 1977, when SB Moyo and a few friends left school to join the liberation struggle.”

1130: He says Dr SB Moyo, made it up to their father by becoming an academic doctor through committed study when he returned from war.

1133: He says in his 3 years in office, as Mberengwa Senator he transformed the constituency through high impact projects in youth, education and infrastructure.

1133: Mr Moyo salutes DR SB Moyo’s wife Loice Matanda Moyo for standing with her husband through thick and thin, even in times of stress and sickness.

1133: “I would like to thank President Mnangagwa and Government for conferring national hero status to our brother. This is the highest honour.”

1133: “Tinoti Dhewa, Bvumavaranda, Mwana wavaRozvi, Zorora Zvakanaka”.

1133: Mr Moyo ends his eulogy.

1200: Mr Luckmore Chitima the Matiza family representative (Uncle) is now giving the late Dr Biggie Matiza’s eulogy.

1201: “I would like to thank the Presidium, the party and Government, for giving Dr JB Matiza the highest honour in the land, national hero status.”
He says Dr Matiza’s death comes as a blow to the family. He says he was a good father, businessman, politician and leader.

“I am happy that during his last days he followed God and was a born again Christian.” He says JB supported his family beyond anyone’s imagination.

“JB had huge successes in education just five weeks ago, he had achieved a Doctorate in Leadership.”

He was quiet, soft spoken but focused. When he came back from war, he worked for an international architectural firm before joining Government and eventually opening his own firm.

1204: His motto was very simple, “Focus on production, appraise yourself on a daily basis.”

He says Dr Matiza was approachable, and had a scholarship program for family members sponsoring them from primary school up to university.

“To my cousin JB Matiza. You fought a good fight. You were a great man, may you rest in peace.”

Mr Chitima ends eulogy.

1205: Mr Elvis Tapuwei Zimondi, an uncle to the late Commissioner General Zimondi is now addressing mourners. He says the late Major General (Rtd) Zimondi was obedient from childhood. He was not a procastinator, he executed assigned roles with no qualms. Major General Zimondi went to war in 1974, leaving behind a 7 month daughter called Melda. We were happy when he returned and we thanked God.

“We were worried that war had changed him, but he remained humble and loving.”

1206: He says, he built the United Methodist Church in Chidodo area. He named it CAZI United Methodist church, the name was in honour of his parents Charles and Abigail, Zimondi. He built Hombiro clinic which was opened by President Mnangagwa, during the days he was Vice President.

1208: There were a number of schoolgoing children he was assisting in our area. Some of the students he had sponsored from primary school are now at the University of Zimbabwe.

“I would like to thank Government for conferring Heroes’ status to our son. We do not take the honour for granted. We hope it inspires others from the country to rise and work for the country.”

He ends eulogy

1214: Sadly, we have lost then to the dreaded invisible enemy. The Covid-19 pandemic which is causing havoc in the region and world over. This is why this ceremony is behind held under strict WHO guidelines resulting in the limited numbers gathered here today. We have no doubt about the enormous contribution which the trio in their individual capacities made to the country from the liberation struggle to post independence Zimbabwe.

1215: On behalf of His Excellency President Mnangagwa to express my pain and sincere condolences to each of the bereaved families. May I say to them, your great losses are our losses too. For your great sons were no longer yours alone but ours together. The Covid-19 pandemic has not spared the Republic of Zimbabwe. The country has witnessed in the past three or so weeks, a surge in the new Covid-19 variant.

1216: It has claimed the lives of many of our citizenry including the lives of our three national heroes we are laying to rest today. We were here, a few ways ago to lay to rest Cdes Morton Malianga and Ellen Gwaradzimba. One would expect that when tragedy strikes it will gradually abate but Covid-19 has fiercely continued to take lives. Only God knows when it will end. The common phenomenon about these cadres is most important in that the participated in the liberation struggle, a war which was waged to confront the Rhodesian regime. Secondly the three comrades worked hard to improve the lives of people, post independence, in a peaceful environment.

1219: The late SB Moyo was a joy to work with. When we decided to go back to school to further our studies, together with other senior military members I saw something in him. He was determined to achieve everything he would have told himself he wants to achieve. He was instrumental in the transformation of the national defense college. From 2010-14, he said as Director as Director Defense Forces Department. The late Dr SB Moyo held several important appointments in the international peace spectrum, secondment to the UN peacekeeping in Somalia in 1994. History would be incomplete if the name Rtd LT General SB Moyo’s name is not recorded prominently in the bringing in of the new dispensation.

1220: Many of us remember him as the voice of Operation Restore Legacy. On retirement in 2017, the distinguished DR Moyo joined central Government. He was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

1222: Romesh Ranganathan, Meera Syal and Moeen Ali in that order. He worked tirelessly to foster reengagement. He was a torch bearer of pursuing the new dispensation mantra, Zimbabwe Is Open For Business. He will be painfully remembered as a man who was committed to the emancipation of Zimbabweans from all walks of life. Similarly, the late Dr Matiza whose Chimurenga name was Destroyer Ndlovu, he traded the classroom for Military Training.

1224: He joined ZIPRA and crossed to Zambia in 1975. He was received at freedom camp. In 1978 the young Cde Destroyer Ndlovu was at freedom camp when the Rhodesians bombed it, killing 400 Zimbabweans and our late hero was injured in the process. He sustained injuries from which he never fully recovered.

1232: He held very demanding portfolios but when he died he was Minister of Transport. He conceived and conceptualised a norden road, rail and air transport in the southern corridor, which dovetailed with Vision 2030. His recent graduation with a Doctorate in Business Management in December 2020 was testimony of his insatiable quest for knowledge.The country has lost a committed minister, whose commitment to infrastructure development will forever be in our memories.

1233: The late Major General Rtd Zimondi was a war time leader. In Manica, when he was Provincial Operational Commander, I served under him as the Political Commissar.

He was a member of the ZANLA High Command. We were close and worked as Commander and Political Commissar. I remember the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, we were together, and the commander was Cde Tonderai Nyika. Due to his dilligence he was given operational tasks that turned around the liberation struggle. Besides being a commander, he was an artillery bastion. He was a great strategist and shrewd commander.

1241: All Cdes he operated with in his provincial heirachy survived the war. In post independence Zimbabwe, Major General Zimondi has an illustrious service in the Zimbabwe National Army. His roles included, but not limited to,vChief of Defense Intelligence and Commander Presidential Guard. The late General Rtd Zimondi was a field commander, administrator per excellence. He transformed the Zimbabwe Prisons Service to focus on fully rehabilitating offenders into better citizens. In him, Zimbabwe has lost a great son.

1243: The entire family should derive solace in that the late Major General Zimondi worked tirelessly for his country. As I conclude, I wish to extend the nation’s sincere condolences to the Matiza, Moyo and Zimondi family. Let me assure you that the gallant sons did not die in vain. They remain inspirational even in death, they are heroes among heroes. Covid-19 has taught us an important lesson that we are all mortals. The fight against this pandemic does not allow us to choose who to walk with, work and run with.

1245: It does not discriminate between the powerful and the weak. The Haves and Have Nots. We will eventually prevail as a people. Government is in the process of acquiring vaccines. Let us continue following WHO and national protocols. Let us continue to mask up and maintain social distance.

1246: To the departed comrades I say, may your dear souls rest in eternal peace.

1248:  Acting President ends speech.

1302: The bodies of the late heroes are being taken to their respective final resting places. Only a few members of the bereaved families and family members have been allowed witness the burial process closely.

1316: The Zimbabwe National Army has finished a 21 Gun Salute, a military ritual performed through firing of canons as a military honour. The bodies are now being lowered into graves.

1342: The ceremony ends.