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(TALKZIMBABWE) President Mugabe consoles Mujuru family

President Mugabe consoles Mujuru family
Posted by By Our reporter at 16 August, at 20 : 35 PM

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has expressed shock and sorrow at the unexpected death of one of the most trusted veteran freedom fighters and soldiers, Retired General Solomon Tapfumanei Mujuru.

The President visited One Commando Barracks in Harare where he conveyed his condolences to Vice President Joice Mujuru, wife to the late military strategist, who died when a fire engulfed his farm house in Beatrice last night.

Addressing scores of people among them government ministers, service chiefs, friends and relatives of the late General Mujuru, who converged at the barracks, President Mugabe said the death is shocking and devastating as the late was burnt beyond recognition.

“I have never seen a person die in such a horrific manner, we are all shocked,” said President Mugabe.

He said it is unfortunate that General Mujuru met his death through such an unfortunate circumstance yet one would have expected him to die long back by a bullet.

President Mugabe later chronicled General Mujuru’s liberation history up to the time of independence and described him as one of the liberation’s true commanders, saying the late never betrayed the revolution.

“I knew him in 1976 outside the country. He was one of those in the first line of command during the war of liberation and was so influential in the organisation of the struggle,” the President added.


The President also said the late General Mujuru, who was affectionately known as Cde Rex Nhongo and the late generals; Josiah Magama Tongogara, Vitalis Gava Zvinavashe and Josiah Tungamirai, were part of a wartime command which moulded thousands of young men and women who crossed the borders to Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania in a successful bid to dismantle the racist settler colonial dispensation.

In this moment of deep grief, President Mugabe requested the Mujuru family to derive some comfort from the great deeds of the late departed hero, which earned him profound respect and a special place in the history of Zimbabwe.

CONDOLENCES POUR IN

In a condolence message to Vice President Mujuru, children, the Mujuru family and the nation, the Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo said the country has lost a rare breed of a cadre, who was one of the pioneers of the armed struggle against colonial oppression.

He said the late Retired General Mujuru was a strategic thinker, who appreciated the political, economic and social dynamics of Zimbabwe and was always ready to offer possible solutions to such problems.

Zanu-PF National Chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo likened General Mujuru’s death to a political tsunami that has shaken the whole nation.

“We have worked together for a very long time and his death is indeed a great loss to the nation,” said Moyo.

Former Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Charles Utete said he knew Retired General Mujuru as a dedicated son of the soil who sacrificed his life to liberate the country.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland East Province has recommended that the late General Mujuru be declared a national hero.

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association (ZILIWACO) also sent a message of condolences to the Mujuru family and the entire nation following the death of a revolutionary icon.

The association’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Shine Chakanyuka described the late Retired Mujuru as an epitome of courage and sacrifice for the liberation of Zimbabwe.

Indeed the passing on of Retired General Mujuru shook off the whole nation and from beyond the country’s borders, the Zimbabwean delegation to Brazil says it is with the Mujuru family and the nation at large in mourning the retired general.

Delivering the condolence message, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi said the delegation has learnt with great shock and profound sadness on the unexpected passing on of Retired General Mujuru.

“We extend our utmost sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mai Mujuru, her children, the Zanu-PF party and the entire nation at large.

“May the Mujuru family take comfort and solace in the knowledge that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this most trying and difficult time,” said Mzembi.

Back home, scores of people, including First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, government ministers and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr Gideon Gono converged at the Mujuru homestead in Chisipite, Harare to convey their condolences.

At his Ruzambu farm in Beatrice, scores of people converged by mid-morning to honour the liberation war hero.

Workers at farm described Retired General Mujuru’s death as a big blow not only to the farming operations but to their daily lives as well.


Workers at the farm of the late general were in a sombre mood trying to come to terms with the death of a person they described as a fatherly figure.

“Cde Mujuru was like a father to us. He had even allocated 3 hectares of land to each us, the farm workers and what is more painful about his death is that he had planned to double his tobacco hectarage this season,” said one of the workers, Mr Isdore Makusha, who is in charge of the tobacco crop at the farm.

Retired General Mujuru died yesterday in a fire accident at his farm house in Beatrice and police forensics are still investigating the cause of the fire which engulfed the entire house.

Senior Government officials attended the farm.

Also present were Co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi; Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu; Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere; Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga; Air Force Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation Retired Major General Happyton Bonyongwe; ZanuPF national spokesperson Rugare Gumbo; and Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde, among others.

Labels: ARMED FORCES, JOYCE MUJURU, ROBERT MUGABE

posted by MrK @ 3:07 AM