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From George Maponga in Masvingo
The late former Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union president Silas Hungwe, was yesterday buried at his rural home in Dunira village, Watungwa communal lands in Chivi North.

Scores of politicians, senior government officials, chiefs, village heads and villagers attended the burial.

Speaking at the burial, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, challenged Zimbabweans to work towards ensuring that the country attained self-reliance in food production as a way of paying homage to the former long-serving ZFU leader.

Hungwe made immense contribution to the development of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. He died on Monday at his Mabelreign home in Harare after a long illness. He was 92.

The former ZFU president, was brother to Psychomotor Activities in Education and Vocational Training Minister Josaya Hungwe.

Addressing mourners at the burial, VP Mnangagwa hailed the late ZFU leader as a hero who championed the development of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector before and after the attainment of independence in 1980.

VP Mnangagwa said Hungwe’s dream was for Zimbabweans to fully utilise their land and water to produce enough food for the nation.

He said the only way to honour heroes such as Hungwe, was for the nation to get inspiration from his sterling work in agriculture and make sure Zimbabwe became a net food exporter within the next two years.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa, said while the people of Masvingo were mourning the passing on of Hungwe, the province and the nation at large would take solace from the benefits that would continue to accrue to the nation because of the tireless work done by the former ZFU president to develop the agricultural sector.

Among the people who attended his funeral was Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare minister Prisca Mupfumira, Zimbabwe Chiefs’ Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira and Agricultural Rural Development Authority chairman Basil Nyabadza.