Online Reporter
Emmanuel Kafe
THE Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, will today consult families of Major-General (Retired) Solomon Siziba and former Cabinet Minister Cde Chenhamo “Chen” Chakezha Chimutengwende on burial arrangements and other logistics.
President Mnangagwa on Friday conferred national hero status on Maj-Gen Siziba (Retd) and Cde Chimutengwende in recognition of their contributions to the country before and after independence.
Maj-Gen Siziba (Retd) died at the Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks Camp Hospital in Harare after battling cancer.
He was 67.
Cde Chimutengwende succumbed to a chronic kidney disease on Thursday.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Ambassador Raphael Faranisi said the Government was working closely with the families.
“We have deployed teams to both families as usual, and tomorrow we will hold a meeting with them to go over the usual procedures.
“During this meeting, we will also discuss the family arrangements on both sides.
“After consulting with them, we will advise on the likely date for the burial of the two national heroes,” he said.
While the exact burial date has not yet been set, Amb Faranisi said, a decision is expected today after the consultations.
“Should all go according to plan, we hope the burials will take place either on Monday or Tuesday. However, this will be confirmed after consultations with the families and relevant authorities, including the Acting President,” he added.
Maj-Gen Siziba (Retd) was a senior officer in the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), while Cde Chimutengwende served in several key ministerial positions and Parliament.
Maj-Gen Siziba (Retd) was part of the group that joined the armed struggle from Manama Mission in 1977.
He did his military training in Zambia, and during the ceasefire, he was attested into the ZNA.
He was stationed at the Zimbabwe Military Academy, where he rose to the rank of Captain.
He was then transferred to the ZNA, where he worked until 2005, rising to the position of Lieutenant-Colonel.
He was posted to Botswana as a defence attaché from 2005 to 2013, stationed at the Zimbabwe embassy.
Upon his return to Zimbabwe in 2013, Maj-Gen Siziba (Retd) was appointed Deputy Commander of One Brigade.
By then, he had been elevated to the rank of Colonel.
From 2013 to 2018, he was appointed Director of Administration at the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe.
Maj-Gen Siziba (Retd) returned to the ZNA in 2018 and was elevated to the rank of Brigadier-General.
He was subsequently assigned to the Brigadier-General Inspectorate position, a post he held until he retired from the military last year.
He was elevated to the position of Maj-Gen upon his retirement.
Meanwhile, Cde Chimutengwende served as a Government Minister, Member of Parliament for Mazowe and a Politburo member.
Born on August 28, 1943, Cde Chimutengwende first became a ZANU PF Member of Parliament in 1985 in Mazowe and served as a legislator for over 25 years.
He also served for 14 years as a Cabinet Minister.
Cde Chimutengwende served as Senator and Deputy President of the Senate, member of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and head of the Zimbabwe delegation to the PAP.
He earned a Master’s degree in Social Science and a PhD from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.
*** More details to follow from Bulawayo and Chiweshe ***
