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Loveness Bepete Chronicle Reporter
WAR veteran Cde Ephraim Ncube, 57, who died on Tuesday, has been declared a liberation war hero and is expected to be buried today at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre in Nkulumane suburb.His brother, Johnson Ncube, said Cde Ncube died at his home at house number 11593 Nkulumane, where mourners are gathered.

“My brother was ill for some time and the doctor concluded that he had a liver problem. He was on medication up until he died,” he said.

Cde Ncube joined the liberation struggle in Botswana in 1977, went to Zambia at Nampundu Zipra Transit Camp and later transferred to GGT2 for training.

He was deployed to Fox Hall Transit Camp and to Zimbabwe’s southern region for operations until 1980 when they were taken to Zezani Assembly point.

In 1981, he was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army under Zimbabwe Intelligence Corps and was then posted to 17 Infantry Battalion.

The following year, he joined the Battalion Battle School in Nyanga under Demo Company, before retiring in 1998.

Bulawayo Provincial War Veterans Association chairman Cde Japhet Phuthi described the war hero as someone who was dedicated to liberating his country.

“During his service he was a hardworking someone, dedicated to liberate his country and he was just loyal,” Cde Phuthi said.

He is survived by his wife and five children.