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Harare Bureau
President Mugabe yesterday mourned veteran of the liberation struggle, Cde Cephas Msipa, who died at West end Hospital in Harare on Monday, describing him as a gallant fighter.

Cde Msipa (85) will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Saturday.

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, visited one of Cde Msipa’s sons Charles at his Borrowdale home in Harare to pay his condolences.

He was accompanied by First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe and Cabinet Ministers Dr Christopher Mushohwe (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services), Cde Kembo Mohadi (State Security), Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (Environment, Water and Climate), Dr Ignatius Chombo (Home Affairs) and Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs).

Addressing mourners, President Mugabe said Cde Msipa was a national hero who worked hard to liberate the country.

He said although his family had indicated that the departed national hero had expressed interest to be buried next to his wife at the Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre, it was important to honour him with status befitting his contribution to the nation.

‘’I had said to Cdes (Emmerson) Mnangagwa and (Phelekezela) Mphoko make prompt arrangements,” he said.

“There was no need for consultations on his hero status. He is a certified national hero who deserves the highest honour accorded others. When I was in Madagascar, I heard that the family had said his wish was to be buried next to his wife.

“I then heard that the issue had been resolved and the family agreed that he should be buried at the National Heroes Acre with others of his ilk. Is the issue of burying him in Gweru still on the table so that I, as the nephew, can talk?”

President Mugabe chronicled how he stayed with Cde Msipa and his long political career.

He described Cde Msipa as an open politician who spoke his mind.

“I stayed with Cde Msipa as a bachelor when I returned from Ghana. Peter Gumbo and him, the two of them of the Madyirapanze totem. Peter was son to my aunt, sister to my father,” he said.

“They lived in Highfield and were still unmarried so I decided to stay with them.  We ventured into politics from the National Democratic Party.  He was moved to Kwekwe or Gweru because of his job as a headmaster.”

President Mugabe continued: “We were together in the party and he later left his job after his arrest and detention at Gonakudzingwa and other places.  Then came the time for the 1979 Lancaster House talks and we went for elections.  Although we contested the elections separately we had earlier agreed in the Patriotic Front that whoever wins must work with the other side in government.”

After independence, President Mugabe said, Cde Msipa served as a Cabinet Minister among other senior posts both in Government and the party.

President Mugabe said Cde Msipa served as a Cabinet Minister, Politburo and Central Committee member among other posts.

“In Gweru Cde Msipa often argued with VP Mnangagwa but those were internal matters that were discussed as we developed the party.  We pulled together.

“At the funeral of his wife, I noticed he wasn’t looking too well. Yes his wife was buried at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru.

“Yes, he wanted to be buried next to her, perhaps thinking he would not be buried at the National Heroes Acre.

“He was humbling himself. Now some want to bury him there?  No he deserves to be buried at the National Heroes Acre.  Even in respect of care, there is permanent care at the Heroes Acre.  Every year provincial heroes acres are given care but maximum care is given at the National Heroes Acre. So I will not agree with the view to bury him in Gweru.

“He deserves the high honour because he fought for it.  We are not slighting his wife or some of his relatives but simply according him this respect as a country, as a party, as government.  Therefore, I was happy when I was told that you (the Msipa family) agreed that he be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Saturday.”

Cde Msipa’s son Masimba said as a family they had only highlighted what their father had suggested to them but they had no objections with him being interred at the National Heroes Acre.

He said they were happy that they delivered that message to President Mugabe.