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Auxilia Katongomara

LIBERATION war hero Cde Joseph Mankunzini has died.

He was 61.

Cde Mankunzini died at his home after a short illness on Wednesday and will be laid to rest at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre today.

Family spokesperson, Mr Khohlwani Moyo described his late brother as a loving man and said his departure had left a void in the family.

“Joseph Mankunzini was a man of the people, his departure has left a gap that the family will find difficulties in filling.

May his dear soul rest in peace,” said Mr Moyo.

Cde Mankunzini, whose war name was Musa Sibindi, was born in 1955 in Plumtree.

After completing his formal education, Cde Mankunzini worked at Hangariya Stores as a sales person.

He went to work in South Africa before he was transferred to Botswana where he was detained at Francistown Detention Camp.

He and other comrades were later moved to Zambia and were transferred to Nampunda Transit Camp.

In 1976, he was selected with others to go for training at Membweshi Training Camp where they underwent military training.

Cde Mankunzini completed training in 1976 and was deployed to Rhodesia though the Northern Front (NF2) in 1977 and operated in Nkayi and Lupane as a regional medical man.

During the operation, Cde Mankunzini was shot on the finger and also sustained head and neck injuries after being hit by bomb splinters during the Rhodesia bombardment.

Cde Mankunzini operated in Lupane and Nkayi until the ceasefire in 1979 and he assembled at St Paul Assembly Point under PAMUZI detachment.

After Independence, Cde Mankunzini was integrated into the National Army and undertook Military Training at Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru as an Officer Cadet.

On completion, he was attested as a Lieutenant and deployed at 3.4 Infantry Brigade in Chipinge as a Platoon Commander until demobilisation on June 17, 1983 at Inkomo Barracks.

Cde Mankunzini is survived by six children.

Mourners are gathered at Block 56/1720 Mpopoma.