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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
War veterans here are mourning the passing on of Cde Priscilla Chihumba, a war collaborator who succumbed to pancreatic cancer on April 13. She was 56.

Cde Chihumba was declared a provincial heroine and was laid to rest at Bindura Heroes’ Acre on April 16.
Speaking at a church service at Holy Family Catholic Church in Bindura recently, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) provincial chairperson Cde Sam Parirenyatwa said it was difficult to be a war collaborator working hand-in-glove with freedom fighters during the liberation struggle.

“Mujibhas and chimbwidos are war liberators. She was one of us during the liberation struggle.
“There is a tendency of downplaying work done by war collaborators.
“It is through their participation and contribution that we were able to win the liberation struggle,” said Cde Parirenyatwa.

“Freedom fighters could not have managed without the help from war collaborators.
“It was not an easy task to be war collaborators, working hand-in-hand with armed freedom fighters, yet they had no weapon(s).

“Thirty seven years down the line, war collaborators have not been compensated.
“We want war collaborators to be recognised. We hear that they will be vetted and get something. We want these people to be remembered; they played a major role in the liberation struggle.”

Cde Parirenyatwa urged people to notify his office when a war collaborator dies to enable them to accord him or her a dignified send-off.
“Many war collaborators are buried without respect because the information will not have reached our offices,” said Cde Parirenyatwa.

“They deserve the honour of a gun salute. Don’t rush to bury them without notifying our offices.”
Politburo member and MP for Bindura North Cde Kennedy Musanhi thanked the Government for according Cde Chihumba provincial heroine status.

He added that the late Cde Chihumba was a humble and God-fearing woman.