Veteran struggle stalwart Tshinga Dube dies
Mashudu Netsianda-Bulawayo Bureau
ZANU PF Politburo member and a stalwart of the liberation struggle, Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube has died.
Col (Rtd) Dube, a decorated war veteran, former Cabinet minister, and revered figure in the country’s liberation history, died yesterday, at the age of 83, after a long battle with illness.
His son, Mr Vusa Dube, confirmed his father’s death last night, saying it came as a shock.
“I can confirm that my father Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube passed on today at 7.34pm at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo following kidney failure. Of course, he has been unwell for the past 10 years, but his death came as a shock to us as a family,” he said.
“As a family, we are saddened by his death and we have lost a pillar of strength.”
Born on July 3, 1941 at Fort Usher in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, Col (Rtd) Dube became involved in politics at a young age, joining the liberation movement in the 1960s.
He trained as a guerrilla fighter in the Soviet Union and China in 1972, becoming a leading figure in the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) during the liberation struggle.
His contribution to the fight for independence was pivotal, particularly in the strategic area of military communications and arms procurement.
Col (Rtd) Dube rose through the ranks of the liberation movement, becoming a key figure in the arms procurement department for Zipra.
He played an instrumental role in ensuring that freedom fighters were well-armed, facilitating shipments of arms from countries that supported Zimbabwe’s struggle against colonialism.
His strategic planning and leadership helped maintain the military strength of liberation forces.
Col (Rtd) Dube, whose pseudo name was Cde Embassy, was one of the first guerrillas to be deployed to the front where he operated in Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland North.
His operations saw his unit, which laid the groundwork for the Wankie Battles, a joint operation by Zapu and ANC cadres, overlapping to the nearby district of Bulilima in Matabeleland South.
He was a military communications specialist, who worked closely with Cdes Cain Mathema, Joshua Mpofu, and Bhekuzulu Khumalo, among others. They jointly ran the department with comrades from ANC’s Umkhonto WeSizwe who also fell under Col (Rtd) Dube’s command and these included Cdes Walter Mavuso, Jackie Modise, who was the wife of MK commander, Cde Joe Modise. One of the epic battles that Col (Rtd) Dube participated in included the Madliwa Battle, the one which took almost five days along the Zambezi River Escarpment near Kariba.
It was fought on the Zambian side. Their battalion was commanded by now Retired Major-General Stanford Khumalo, uMadliwa.
That was a fully-fledged battalion, a regular battalion with good weapons, and communication systems.
The Rhodesians lost quite a number of their soldiers there. That battle happened just towards the ceasefire in October 1979. During that time, the Rhodesian forces were causing havoc on the Zambian side, destroying and sabotaging infrastructure such as bridges.
During the ceasefire period, Col (Rtd) Dube was chosen as a member of the Committee responsible for integration, demobilisation, and selection to form the Zimbabwe National Army.
It was a committee headed by three people, and he represented Zipra, while the late Josiah Tungamirai came in from the Zanla side. General Jacobs was from the Rhodesian Army.
Col Rtd Dube took over the signals department as the overall commander in the Zimbabwe National Army.
He was appointed a full Colonel, served 10 years in the army, and then transferred to the Defence Headquarters as Deputy Secretary in charge of Research and Development.
After serving for about three years, Col (Rtd) Dube took over as chief executive of the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI) where he worked for 23 years.
Col (Rtd) Dube later transitioned to a political career, serving as the Member of Parliament for Makokoba in Bulawayo for several years.
In 2015, Col (Rtd) Dube was appointed Minister of War Veterans.
Col (Rtd) Dube’s contribution to the nation extended beyond the battlefield and the political arena.
He was a strong advocate for education, sponsoring several young Zimbabweans to study in various fields abroad.
He also authored a memoir, “Quiet Flows the Zambezi,”
He is survived by his wife, Nomathemba Wendy Dube and several children, and grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at Number 168 Shirley Road, Killarney suburb in Bulawayo.
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