BY MOSES MATENGA
ZIMBABWE will today bury two national heroes, one of them at the national shrine, while the other one will be interred at his Umguza farm in Matabeleland North province as per his wish.
The late Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo will be buried at the National Heroes Acre, while war veteran Abraham Nkiwane will be buried in Umguza.
In a statement yesterday, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said only a limited number of people would be allowed to join President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, at the Heroes Acre due to COVID-19 regulations.
“In line with the COVID-19 protocol, only 20 close family members from each of the national heroes will be allowed to attend the burial ceremony,” Kazembe said.
Only the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Senate President Mabel Chinomona, Chief Justice Luke Malaba, ministers Oppah Muchinguri (Defence), Kazembe (Home Affairs), Oliver Chidawu (Harare Provincial Affairs), acting Harare mayor Stewart Mutizwa, service chiefs, and a limited number of permanent secretaries, among others, will be allowed to attend the burial.
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This is not the first time that the country has had to bury two or more national heroes at the same time this year.
In January this year, three national heroes, ministers Joel Biggie Matiza (Transport and Infrastructural Development), Sibusiso Moyo (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) and Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services boss Paradzai Zimondi were interred at the same time at the national shrine after succumbing to COVID-19.
In the same month, national heroes Morton Malianga and Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba were also buried at the same time in Harare.
Meanwhile, former Muzvezve Member of Parliament and Zanu PF central committee member Peter Haritatos (77) has died.
Haritatos is the father of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday confirmed that Haritatos died at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare on Saturday after succumbing to COVID-19 complications.
“We have lost a loyal Zanu PF cadre who will be profoundly missed,” Ziyambi said.
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