FORMER Mashonaland West provincial governor Mudhumeni Chivende has reportedly turned destitute and is struggling to pay for his medication and other basic needs following neglect by his erstwhile Zanu PF colleagues after he left public office.
NUNURAI JENA/PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
Chivende, who served as Mashonaland West’s first provincial governor at independence in 1980 and was one of the key facilitators of the Chinhoyi Battle of 1966 where seven gallant fighters died in a confrontation with Rhodesian forces, left government after serving two five-year terms.
His wife, Rosemary, told NewsDay last week that her ailing husband was struggling to make ends meet and bitter over his neglect by colleagues in the Zanu PF government.
“İt’s surprising that no one is helping vaChivende, but I know they will be the first to come and give speeches at his funeral. They look after the dead more than the living legends,” Rosemary said.
She, however, declined to disclose the nature of his ailment.
Chivende — credited for accommodating the first group of seven freedom fighters from Zambia who later perished during the famous Chinhoyi Battle — said he did not benefit from the land reform programme and government’s car schemes since he left office in 1990.
He now scrounges for basics at the family farm in Raffingora.
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Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday said he was unaware of Chivende’s ill health. “As a party, we are really not aware of his illness and sufferings, but the party
