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Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
A sombre atmosphere engulfed Khumalo Barracks (formerly Brady Barracks) as the body of the late Major-General (Rtd) Solomon Siziba arrived in Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.
The body arrived aboard a military helicopter at Khumalo Barracks where last respects will be held before burial at the National Heroes Acre at a date yet to be announced.
It was welcomed by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo, Cde Judith Ncube, service chiefs, family, friends and the larger Bulawayo community.
The veteran freedom fighter’s body will today be flown to his rural home in Gwanda District where friends, family and neighbours are set to bid farewell to the late national hero before a ZNA funeral parade is conducted at Imbizo Barracks tomorrow.
Soon after touching down at the Khumalo Barracks Parade Square, close family relatives of the late Maj-Gen (Rtd) Siziba welcomed his body with a cultural ritual before his body was taken to his home where a short service was held.
The body was then taken to a local funeral parlour where it lay in state.
In an interview with Sunday News, a close friend to the late national hero, Air Vice Marshal Selebale Masera said their friendship dates back to their high school days in the 70s at Manama Mission where they were recruited by a stick of guerrillas and crossed over to Botswana enroute to Zambia to join the armed struggle.
“We were together at Manama High School, in the 70s. We left together to join the liberation war, trained together in Zambia at CGT. Thereafter, we went separate ways for specialist training. I went to the Soviet Union. When I returned to Zambia, I think I would say we never met until after independence.
“As we were homeboys, once we met after independence we bonded very well because of the common background. He joined the ZNA and I joined the Air Force. We continued our friendship and rose through the ranks. We worked together in the 90s at the ZDF Headquarters,” he said.
Thereafter, Air Vice Marshal Masera said he was posted out of the country while the Maj-Gen (Rtd) Siziba remained at the ZDF Headquarters. On his return, the late national hero was also posted out of the country to Botswana where they continued communicating as friends.
He said up to the time of his death, they were together in Harare.
“When he started not feeling well, he confided in me that he was not well. I was visiting him at the hospital to a point when he was discharged. I was happy that my friend was doing well until at some stage when he was taken out for treatment in India.
“On his return, he called me and I met him at the airport. He was going to be admitted to the accommodation that had been arranged for him. I was visiting him up until last Saturday. I spent maybe three hours with him in Harare,” said Air Vice Marshal, Masera.
Turning to the famous Manama group, Air Vice Marshal Masera said it took a brave young man to join the liberation struggle and confirmed that the late national hero was very brave.
He said once he had matured he became a very organised man, and this is why they remained friends because both of them were organised.
Major-General Simo Maseko said he met the late national hero in Zambia and spoke about his dedication to the armed struggle.
“I was with the late Major-General Siziba in Zambia during the liberation struggle. I remember, as we grew up there, he would tell us that he was at Manama Mission where they were taken by the guerrillas who crossed with them to Botswana in January 1977.
“The interesting part, which he frequently spoke about was that there were moves to try and get all the Manama group back to their homes but he told us that they refused and were dedicated to join the war,” said Maj-Gen Maseko.
“When we came back after independence and joined the ZNA, he served with diligence, rising through the ranks and serving in various key positions.”
The late national hero did his primary level at Nhwali Primary School and proceeded to Manama High School in 1976, where he started his Form One.
The following year, he was part of the group that joined the armed struggle from the school, together with the now late national hero, Lt-Gen Sibusiso Busi Moyo, Beitbridge East Member of Parliament Albert Nguluvhe, former commander of the Airforce, Chief Marshal (Rtd) Elson Moyo and former Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) public relations manager, Mrs Cecilia Bhebhe , among other cadres.
Maj-Gen (Rtd) Siziba 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 headquarters, where he worked until 2005, rising to the position of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was posted to Botswana as Defence Attaché from 2005 to 2013, stationed at the Zimbabwean Embassy.
Upon his return to Zimbabwe in 2013, Maj-Gen (Rtd) Siziba was appointed the Deputy Commander of One Brigade following his elevation to the rank of Colonel.
From 2013 until 2018, he was appointed Director of Administration at the National Prosecuting Authority.
Maj-Gen (Rtd) Siziba returned to the ZNA in 2018 and was elevated to the rank of Brigadier-General and was 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. @nyeve14
