Zimpapers Logo

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
ZANU-PF Midlands provincial deputy chairperson Cde Kizito Chivamba who died on Tuesday morning has been declared a liberation war hero.

Cde Chivamba (59) who was the MP for Chiwundura died at Gweru Provincial Hospital after a short illness.

Zanu-PF Midlands provincial chairperson Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube confirmed the development.

He said Cde Chivamba is likely to be buried over the weekend at Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre, but they were yet to agree with his family on the exact burial day.

“The late Cde Chivamba has been accorded liberation hero status by His Excellency [President Mugabe]. We received the information from Harare. We are happy as a province that the party leadership under the guidance of Cde Mugabe found it befitting to accord him with the liberation war hero status. He will be buried at Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre over the weekend. We are just waiting to agree with the family on the exact day but it should be this weekend,” said Cde Ncube.

He said condolence messages were pouring in from other provinces as the party continued to mourn the loss of Cde Chivamba.

“It will be difficult to replace this cadre who was a stabilising factor and voice of reason in the province,” he said.

Cde Chivamba was born on August 27 in1958 in Bikita in Masvingo.

In 1972 and at the age of 14, Cde Chivamba joined Zanu as a youth activist in Hippo Valley and took part in demonstrations against the Pearce Commission.

In 1975 he moved to Gweru where he continued with his activism.

Between 1977 and 1978, he worked with freedom fighters around Zaka and Bikita areas before returning to Gweru in 1979 soon after the Lancaster House conference.

He joined Monomotapa District branch as a youth member and helped in the recruitment of new members into the party.

After independence, Cde Chivamba was involved in trade unionism between 1980 and 1992.

He joined the city of Gweru from 1992 to 1988 as an accounts clerk before joining Zesa as a senior liaison clerk from 1988 to 2008.

On the political front, in 1993, he was elected unopposed as the provincial youth Secretary for Administration before he was elevated the following year to the position of deputy chairman.

In 1998, he was re-elected provincial youth deputy chairman unopposed.

Between 2001 and 2004 he was also elected unopposed as the provincial youth chairman.

Between 2009 and 2013, Cde Chivamba was elected provincial secretary for Health and Child Welfare in the main wing. Between 2013 and 2014, he was elected to the post of provincial vice chairperson.

From 2014 to 2015 he served as the acting provincial chairman before he became substantive provincial chairman the following year.

Cde Chivamba was suspended last year together with two other provincial chairpersons Cde Joel Biggie Matiza of Mashonaland East and Cde Ezra Chadzamira in Masvingo for allegedly promoting factionalism.

In February Cde Chivamba bounced back into the provincial executive as the deputy chairman.

Cde Chivamba is survived by wife Ceromina, six children and five grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at Lot 1 of Indiva Farm, Ward 14 near Sino on the outskirts of Gweru.

— @pchitumba1