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to the family following the death of national hero Cde David Karimanzira who is expected to be buried tomorrow at the National Heroes Acre.
Cde Karimanzira collapsed at his home on Thurs-day morning and was pronounced dead when he was taken to West End Hospital in Harare.
The Zanu-PF Politburo met and unanimously agreed to confer national hero status on Cde Karima-nzira in recognition of his immense contribution to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and national deve-lopment after independence.
Among the mourners were Vice President Joice Mujuru, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zim-babwe Defence Forces Commander General Con-stantine Chiwenga.
Speaker-after-speaker described Cde Karima-nzira as a soft-spoken person who took his time to deal with people, whether they were relatives or ordinary Zimbabweans.
The deceased’s sister Mrs Lyness Chikowore said her brother was quiet when he was growing up.
“He was a quiet man who did not want to see people argue or fight. He was also very kind.
“I remember one day he saw a dog which was being affected by the cold weather outside. He surprised many of us when he took the dog and put it in his blankets so that it would not suffer from the cold weather,” she said.
Mrs Chikowore described her brother as an honest and principled man.
“He could have used his political clout to favour the family, but he always insisted that everyone works hard to achieve their goals. We have lost a leader and advisor in the family,” she said.
Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo described Cde Karimanzira as a dynamic leader who was committed to serving Zimbabwe.
“It is very sad that Cde Karimanzira has passed away so unexpectedly. I was with him the previous day when we were preparing for the Politburo meeting on Wednesday.
“He only told me that he had a toothache and needed some rest. He was a dynamic man with superb leadership skills. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

Minister Mnangagwa paid tribute to Cde Karimanzira’s work during the liberation struggle.
“I met him a long time ago during the fight for Zimbabwe’s independence.
“While some of us were at the warfront, Cde Karimanzira and his colleagues played a great role especially during the Lancaster House Conference,” he said.
Zanu-PF national secretary for women’s affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri expressed shock at Cde Karimanzira’S death a few hours after attending a Politburo meeting at the party headquarters in Harare.
“We met to arrange a Women’s League meeting and we had to cancel it after his sudden death.
“I worked with Cde Karimanzira in various areas especially when we were both governors and we spearheaded the land reform programmes in Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces.
“We also travelled together to Uganda on the HIV and Aids programme,” she said.
Cde Muchinguri said Cde Karimanzira successfully implemented a number of programmes including water and sanitation, the Presidential Scholarship Programme, housing programmes and several others that assisted people especially women.
“It is just unfortunate that Cde Karimanzira has passed on while we are about to get into the Biblical Jerusalem.
“Our journey is almost complete. We have embarked on two very important programmes, the empowerment drive and anti-sanctions petition campaign and it is up to us to complete them in honour of Cde Karimanzira,” she said.
Mashonaland East Governor and Resident Minister Aeneas Chigwedere said Cde Karimanzira was the most senior Politburo member in the province.
“He worked on a number of projects especially irrigation when he was the governor.
“We have lost a soft, tolerant and patient man. He was not an emotional person and he would take time to discuss issues.
“Cde Karimanzira was more of a father to the people of Mashonaland East and he would be sadly missed,” he said.
Former Mashonaland East governor and Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Ray Kaukonde described Cde Karimanzira as a humble man who worked passionately for the development of the education sector in the province.
“The man was endowed with a lot of knowledge and we learnt that no problem was insurmountable. He always taught us that we could always rise above any problem,” he said.
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Cde Amos Midzi said Cde Karimanzira was a patient man.
“He was quietly effective. He took a balanced view and there was no way one would doubt his commitment to the party and Zimbabwe as a country.”
He said Cde Karimanzira was also a “responsive” governor who took his time to assist people.
“He took time to listen to the people. You would not believe sometimes the number of people he attended to at his office,” he said.
The party’s provincial chairman for Bulawayo Cde Isaac Dakamela also expressed shock over Cde Karimanzira’s death.
“We never expected him to go so soon because we saw him alive and well during the launch of the Anti Sanctions Petition in Harare three weeks ago.
“He was one of the party elders who groomed most of us. He was a bottomless fountain of wisdom that gave us priceless advice over the years.
“His death is a blow to the party and the whole country. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. I extend the province’s condolences to his family and the country.”
Cde Karimanzira’s body will today be flown to his rural home in Chitowa, Murehwa.
“The body will leave Harare at 10am for Murehwa and it will be flown back around 3pm,” a family spokesperson said.
According to a preliminary programme released yesterday, Cde Karimanzira will be buried at the National Heroes Acre tomorrow.