BY MIRIAM MANGWAYA/SILAS NKALA
THE late former minister and Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, who died on Sunday after battling cancer, has been declared a national hero.
Moyo died at the age of 76 at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo.
Zanu PF chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also Defence minister, said the party unanimously declared Moyo a national hero.
“Indeed and without any shadow of doubt, the unanimity in the declarations of national hero status among the entirety of the leadership and stakeholders attests to the late hero’s proven work, patriotism and gallant exploits in defending the people’s revolution. The nation is indebted to his unwavering life of service to our people and nation at large as illustrated in his book titled Service to My Country,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Moyo was the late Vice-President and Zapu stalwart Joshua Nkomo’s right handman during the liberation struggle.
Meanwhile, Zapu secretary-general Mthulisi Hanana, who is also party acting spokesperson, said although the party was disappointed that the late Moyo refused to join them, his legacy was worth noting.
“We shall also undoubtedly remember him as part of the people that remained in Zanu PF when Zapu pulled out,” Hanana said.
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“Though we were, and still are disappointed by his decision and that of many others, we respect his democratic right of defecting from Zapu by default to join Zanu PF. We regret that he stayed on when it was obvious that Zanu PF was failing to serve the interests of our people. His death must be a moment of reflection for many who were once Zapu but are now Zanu PF. They must ponder over whether or not this is what they went to war for, and whether in death they want to be remembered as those who perpetuated Zanu PF misrule or not.”
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