WAR veterans and Zanu PF are mourning the death of Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Mozambique and Eswatini, Victor Matemadanda, with colleagues remembering him as a fearless liberation war fighter and outspoken political figure.
A former secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association and ex-deputy minister, Matemadanda died after being hospitalised, amid suspected poisoning claims following last week's war veterans’ national assembly in Harare.
Zanu PF national spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa described Matemadanda as a fearless stalwart of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Mutsvangwa chronicled Matemadanda’s contribution to the liberation war, tracing his journey from the Zimbabwean exile community in Zambia to his role as a defender of what he termed the “Permanent Zimbabwe Revolution”.
Recalling his own experience in the pioneer Chitungwiza Company at Tembwe, Mutsvangwa revealed how a hunger crisis nearly claimed his life before a rescue mission organised by Matemadanda arrived.
“Word of the hunger plight stalking Tembwe reached the exile community in Zambia. Comrade Matemadanda, together with the late Comrade Kombayi, organised a food convoy from Zambia to Tembwe. I still vividly remember that life-saving convoy to this day, five decades later.”
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He also reflected on Matemadanda’s role in the events leading to the removal of late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
“Cde Matemadanda, as secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, was part of my leadership team when I was chairman. We flatly refused to allow the patriotic movement to slide into a family dynasty.”
He described the former Gokwe Central legislator as bold, courageous and outspoken in challenging what he termed Mugabe’s “perfidious assault on the Permanent Zimbabwe Revolution”.
“He would be imprisoned for his acts of open defiance against the wayward, ageing Mugabe. His exploits were not in vain. By November 2017, the people of Zimbabwe would demonstrate in open revolt,” Mutsvangwa said.
Meanwhile, ZNLWA national spokesperson Cornelius Muoni described Matemadanda as a brave and forthright leader who was never afraid to speak his mind out.
“He was a respectful person, but if one crossed his path, he would not keep quiet. Bravery was his diet,” he said.