Tshinga Dube declared national hero Zanu-PF National Chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri consoles Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube’s widow, Nomathemba, at the family residence in Bulawayo yesterday

Herald Reporter

Liberation war stalwart, Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube, who died on Thursday evening, has been declared a national hero in recognition of his heroic contributions to the independence of Zimbabwe.

In his condolence message to the Dube family yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the status was befitting for a cadre of Cde Dube’s stature.

“In recognition of his outstanding role in struggles for the Independence of Zimbabwe and that of several nations in our sub-region, and for the sterling work he diligently executed in the service of his people both before and after Independence, the ruling ZANU PF Politburo has seen it fit and proper to declare Cde Tshinga Dube a national hero so he is properly honoured and remembered, and so he is appropriately rested alongside his luminary peers.

“This is the least our nation, which is forever grateful, can do to express its admiration of, and to show and express its gratitude to him,” he said.

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The President expressed his shock and grief at the passing on of Cde Dube, describing him as a veteran freedom fighter, a loyal soldier and a humble and hard working politician.

He said Col Dube would be remembered for the many battles he fought and won for the country as well as the outstanding role he played soon after Independence, particularly the integration process through which the previously warring forces were moulded into a new national army.

“Today our nation revels in its strong, loyal and dependable national defence force, which Cde Dube and his peers took so much pain in moulding,” he added.

Besides the work he did before independence, Cde Dube continued to be a sterling veteran and worked hard to defend the country’s hard earned sovereignty.

Zanu PF National Chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri delivers President Mnangagwa’s condolence message to the family of Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube in Bulawayo yesterday

After the war, he was reassigned to head the sensitive Zimbabwe Defence Industries, ZDI, a small but growing arms manufacturing outfit which kept the security establishment well-supplied and effective.

Cde Dube left the military to join national politics.

“In that new role, he distinguished himself as an adept organiser and a grassroots politician, who developed a deep understanding of our people as they lived in various communities and faced different social circumstances and conditions. All that developed in him deep empathy for, and strong affinities with ordinary people for whose interests he espoused and advocated,” said the President.

He said Cde Dube had a fiercely national outlook and character and always defined problems and sought solutions to them within the national context.

To him, said the President, Zimbabwe was and remained one united nation whose many colours, tribes, regions, languages and temperaments made it rich and diverse.

“As we mourn and mark Cde Dube’s sad departure, this is one key lesson and legacy which he bequeaths to our Nation, and which should always be cherished and treasured across generations. Those of us privileged to work with him for a long time: in the struggle, in the military, in politics, and in day-to-day running of the affairs of our nation, will sorely miss him, his steadying mind and be-calming hand especially.

“He counseled all of us through his frank and honest opinion, which he never hesitated to express,” he noted.

President Mnangagwa expressed his hope that Cde Dube’s family would find solace in the recognition awarded to him for his hard work.

“On behalf of the party, ZANU PF, Government, my family and my behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Dube family, most especially to Mama Dube and the children, as they all go through motions of profound grief and a sense of loss.

“May they all be consoled by the fact that we, his comrades in the protracted struggle, continue to revere him, and to fondly cherish the exceptional times we spent with him. Indeed his heroic deeds in the service of his people and Nation made him a great man who will forever deserve a special place in our hearts and honourable mention in annals of our Nation which he helped bring about,” he said.

Cde Tshinga Dube died after a protracted battle with kidney failure.

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