A sombre atmosphere descended upon Chikomba yesterday as villagers converged at Neshangwe High School to view the coffin carrying the remains of Retired Army General Solomon Mujuru, who was burnt to ashes in an inferno on Tuesday morning.
Most villagers — in hushed tones — questioned the genuineness of the tragedy that claimed the life of one of the most decorated cadres in pre and post-independent Zimbabwe.
“We demand an immediate inquiry into the death. It is a demand coming from his people, his roots, he was our son,” said one villager, who requested anonymity.
National leaders who spoke at the funeral opted to skirt the sensitive possibility that there could have been a hidden hand behind Mujuru’s death.
By 10 o’clock in the morning, scores of people had thronged the school grounds awaiting the arrival of Mujuru’s remains, a former MP for the area.
When the coffin finally arrived aboard an Airforce of Zimbabwe helicopter, villagers mobbed the helicopter to catch a glimpse of the casket carrying the remains of a man credited by many with bringing the little development seen in Chikomba since independence in 1980.
“He played a pivotal role in ensuring that most of this district was electrified. We have lost a leader, a father, and a patriot,” said Peter Makoto, who claimed to have known Mujuru since childhood. Said another villager, Susan Mangwiro: “He built fowl runs for every villager in our area, enough to accommodate 1 000 chicks. What more do you want?”
State Security minister Sydney Sekeramayi and Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, dwelt on the need to unite and the usual chorus of not giving away the country to detractors. Earlieron, Mujuru’s remains had been taken to the family graveyard where his elder brother Joel said the Retired General would have been buried had he not been declared a national hero.
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Mujuru’s remains were also taken to Marondera at Rudhaka Stadium accompanied by two helicopters. People thronged the stadium to bid farewell to the late hero.
