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Walter Nyamukondiwa in RAFFINGORA
Provincial hero and zanu-pf Central Committee member Cde Mudhumeni Chivende, who died on Saturday, has been laid to rest at his Mwera Oyera Farm in Raffingora.

Cde Chivende, who succumbed to prostate cancer-related complications, was buried with full military honours including a 21-gun salute befitting a man of his stature.

Speaker after speaker described him as a selfless cadre who put the country ahead of his personal interests.

War Veterans Affairs Minister Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa described Cde Chivende as a visionary who planted the seeds of the Second Chimurenga war that brought Independence.

“Cde Chivende saw beyond family and loved his country beyond self. He started what, at the time, was a difficult thing. The white man had instilled fear in the natives,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“Being the visionary that he was, Cde Chivende planted seeds that went on to multiply into a nightmare for the white settler regime in what has come to be known as the Second Chimurenga.”

He said Cde Chivende displayed love for his country at a time when doing so attracted a penalty of death.

He said burying Cde Chivende was not only burying a person but the history of the country. “This should not be allowed to happen as the country’s battles, battle sites and participants should be chronicled,” he said.

“We are burying a person here but we are also burying the history of this country. Cde Chivende is going with some episodes of the history of this country which our children should know about,” he said.

Cde Mutsvangwa described him as a “good, dedicated patriot” who remained loyal to the cause of his country up to the end of his life.

He said Government is working with UNESCO to gather and organise the history of the country particularly the war of liberation for future generations. He said the project will see plaques being erected at every battle site highlighting the casualties.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the exploits of Cde Chivende should be put in the annals of history.

Mashonaland West Minister of State Cde Faber Chidarikire comforted Mrs Rosemary Chivende saying it was not their loss but that of Mashonaland West province.

“Mrs Chivende, you should be comforted in the knowledge that it’s not your loss alone but as a province we are poorer without Cde Mudhumeni Chivende,” he said.

Cde Chivende died at Chinhoyi provincial hospital on Saturday after battling prostate cancer for over three years.

He was 75.

He is survived by his wife Rosemary, six children and six grandchildren.