Felex Share Harare Bureau
THE late national hero Brigadier-General John Zingoni was laid to rest at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare yesterday in front of thousands of people.Brig-Gen Zingoni, 60, whose Chimurenga name was Tichatonga Brooker Chiwawa, died from a heart ailment last Friday at Thornhill Air Base Hospital in Gweru.

Proceedings started at Stodart Hall, Mbare, where hundreds of people had gathered to pay their last respects.

People started gathering there at 7AM, while many others lined the streets of   Mbare to catch a glimpse of the hearse  bearing the hero’s body as Zanu-PF youths, clad in party regalia, and the Mbare Chimurenga Choir sang revolutionary songs.

Acting President Joice Mujuru led the body-viewing procession.

Choral groups and the police band celebrated the life of the freedom fighter with song and dance.

Placards and banners praising Brig-Gen Zingoni’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s development were posted around the national shrine.

Some of them read: “Zororai Murugare Mhofu Murapi Mukuru”, “Go well son  of the soil”, and “A brave and dedicated cadre”.

At around 11AM, the gun carriage bearing Brig-Gen Zingoni’s body arrived at the Heroes Acre, accompanied by Acting President Mujuru’s entourage.

Buhera West National Assembly legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba grabbed attention when he rose from where dignitaries were seated and joined Zanu-PF supporters in dancing to gospel tunes.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa described the hero’s death as “premature”.

“His commitment to his country  was unquestionable and these are the  kind of people you would want to have in leadership, but prematurely he has passed on,” he said.

Minister Mnangagwa said Brig-Gen Zingoni always exuded confidence and “was one of those cadres in the frontline commanding a battalion”.

“We again met up during the Congo Campaign although I was not directly involved as I was the then Minister of Justice. Again, he was one of the field frontline commanders.”

Major-Gen (Retired) Gibson Mashingaidze said Brig-Gen Zingoni was a “serious disciplinarian” with a passion for education.

“I worked with him when he was undergoing training at Chimoio and I  caught up with him at Five Brigade,” he said.
“He used to urge juniors to further  their education and would regularly check on their progress in education.”

Retired Brig-Gen Killian Gwanetsa,  the Chiredzi South legislator, said  Masvingo had been robbed of a hard worker, while family representative Mr Tungamirai Zingoni said Brig-Gen Zingoni was a unifier.

Cde Zingoni was born on August 27, 1954, in Chief Mapanzure’s area in Masvingo.

He went to Musingarabwi Primary School and Chikato Secondary School up to RJC, between 1969 and 1970.

Cde Zingoni joined the liberation struggle in 1976 when he crossed into Mozambique and joined Zanla cadres in Machipanda.

He undertook medical studies and worked at the Doroi Refugee Camp hospital.

He trained at Chimoio under the leadership of Cde Chocha, who is now Commissioner-General of Police Augustine Chihuri.

Brig Gen Zingoni worked in the Takawira Sector and at Independence, was sent to the Democratic Republic of Korea for an Infantry Commanders’ Course.

He was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army in 1981 as a private and was elevated to the position of General  Staff Officer (Grade three) at Headquarters 5 Infantry Brigade.

He became Commanding Officer 5.2 Infantry Battalion in 1985 and then Lieutenant-Colonel in 1986. He rose through the ranks to Brigadier-General in 2000,  and he was appointed Director Operations at the Sadc Task Force headquarters in Kinshasa, DRC.

He was awarded various medals during his illustrious career.

He is survived by his wife Wadzanai and three children.

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