ZIMBABWE will continue to safeguard the liberation legacy forged through the sacrifices of its sons and daughters, Vice President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
Speaking during the burial of liberation war hero Cde Clement Moyo in Insiza District, Matabeleland South Province, this Wednesday, Vice President Chiwenga said the country’s history remains a defining pillar of its national identity and future trajectory.
Cde Moyo was laid to rest at his rural home in Masibambaneni Village, Silalabuhwa, Insiza South.
“Our country has a story about where we come from and where we are going. What we do today determines where we are going as a country. The past informs the present, and the present informs the future. Other things might change, but our history does not,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said the sacrifices made by liberation fighters secured the country’s sovereignty and resources.
“The sacrifice by people like Cde Mthunzi has a lot to do with what we have gained as a country, from minerals to the land. Cde Mthunzi did not only fight to liberate this country but served the post-independent Zimbabwe,” he added.
Born on November 11, 1955, in Masibambaneni Village, Cde Moyo completed his primary education at Singwango before joining the liberation struggle in 1977. He received military training in Angola and was deployed to Binga, Kamativi and Hwange during the armed struggle.
After independence, he joined the Zimbabwe National Army, serving until his retirement in 2000.
Speakers at the burial described Cde Moyo as a dedicated cadre and patriot whose contribution extended beyond the battlefield.
“Mthunzi’s great deeds had a great impact not only on him but on the entire community. We should take time to self-introspect on whether our actions are bringing anything meaningful,” said Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga.
ZANU PF Insiza District Coordinating Committee Chairperson, Cde Spare Sithole, said: “Cde Mthunzi was a consistent cadre. As a party, ZANU PF, we have lost a dedicated member.”
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Albert Nguluvhe, noted the province’s pride in its liberation heroes.
“As a province, we celebrate the contributions by men like Mthunzi, and coincidentally we are hosting the national Independence, and we are what we are because of them,” he said.
In a tribute, poet Lucy reflected on the hardships endured during the struggle.
“Wild animals became your friends, you never got tired of wanting to see your motherland free, you crossed flooded rivers and mountains, yet you remained dedicated,” she said.
Cde Moyo is survived by his wife, Musawenkosi Dube, and one child.
