Zimpapers Logo

Centenary residents sing and dance during the funeral of national hero Cde George Rutanhire at Tizora Farm in Centenary yesterday. — (Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba)

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Mashonaland Central Province yesterday bade farewell to national hero Cde George Rutanhire, who will be buried tomorrow at the National Heroes Acre together with Cde Maud Muzenda, the widow of the late Vice President Simon Vengesai Muzenda.

Cde Rutanhire’s body was flown from Bindura to Chesa in Mount Darwin and his Tizora Farm in Centenary, where various speakers recounted his rich legacy.

In Chesa, hordes of people gathered at Cde Rutanhire’s rural home and gave him a befitting send off punctuated with revolutionary songs before his body was flown to Centenary.

In Centenary, another huge crowd was waiting for him, including Zanu-PF legislators from Mashonaland Central.

Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha, Zanu-PF acting provincial chair Cde Dickson Mafios and close family members accompanied Cde Rutanhire’s body.

In his address at Tizora Farm, Adv Dinha said Cde Rutanhire remained humble and selfless despite his iconic history as a freedom fighter.

“Cde Rutanhire remained an ordinary person. He was so simple and interacted with everybody, unlike what some of us do as ministers or provincial party chairmen.

“He has left a rich legacy and our duty now is to continue with the struggle of the revolution he left. We should be prepared to defend our country with the ultimate price.”

Adv Dinha called for unity of purpose among party members in Mashonaland Central.

“I know we have had problems in the province, but we should forgive each other.

“We should ensure that Zanu-PF wins at the end of the day and set our differences aside. To the family, I want to say remain united following the party ideology.

“Your father was a true revolutionary, who always taught people about the party ideology and you should follow that.”

Family spokesperson Mr Joseph Musanhu thanked Zanu-PF and President Mugabe for according Cde Rutanhire the highest honour.

“I have nothing much to say, but that as a family we feel greatly honoured by the status given to our son. It is clear from what we are seeing here today that people are born with their talents. More importantly, I want to thank President Mugabe for giving this status to our son.

“The national hero status is enough testimony that indeed George was a true hero,” he said.

War veteran Cde Veronica Mukombe said: “As Mashonaland Central, we have lost a tried-and-tested cadre, who was committed to his party and the country.

“He was a strong man and I remember him very much during the Nhari and Badza rebellion. Most of us could have sold out, but Cde Rutanhire remained resolute, uniting people. He was not greedy for positions and I want to thank President Mugabe for remembering him by giving him national hero status.”

Cde Rutanhire’s body will be flown to Harare today, where it will lie in state at his Belvedere house ahead of burial tomorrow.

Cde Rutanhire was born Peter Clever Musanhu on April 15, 1949 at St Albert’s Hospital. He started active politics at St Albert’s Mission in 1965 and in 1966, he led a student strike, boycotting lessons protesting the attack of the seven revolutionary cadres in Chinhoyi.

In 1972, he joined the liberation struggle and received military training at Mgagao Training Camp in Tanzania.

Cde Rutanhire was recalled from the war front in 1973 after he was shot in the leg. He once represented Zanu in Sweden, where he met Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Cdes Mayor Urimbo, Sally Mugabe and Zanu representative to Sweden Cde Claudious Chokwenda.

In 1975, Cde Rutanhire was called back to Mgagao by General Josiah Magama Tongogara to join others and re-organise the war after the death of Cde Herbert Chitepo. In June the same year up to September, he participated in the drafting of the Mgagao Declaration together with Cde Rex Nhongo, Constantino Chiwenga, Perrance Shiri, Mernad Muzariri and Paradzai Zimondi.

At independence in 1980, Cde Rutanhire was elected Member of Parliament for Mashonaland Central Province and in 1981, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Youths, Sport and Recreation.

He was elected Central Committee member in 1981 and in 1985, he was the Government chief whip.

Cde Rutanhire participated in the talks that led to the signing of the Unity Accord in 1987 between Zanu-PF and PF Zapu.

In 2010, Cde Rutanhire was appointed Politburo member, a position he held until his death. Cde Rutanhire is survived by three wives and eight children.