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Mpumelelo Nyoni Chronicle Reporter
One of the pioneer freedom fighters Cde Luke Nene Mhlanga who was among the first war veterans to be trained for combat in China has died, his family and former comrades confirmed yesterday.

He was 84.

Cde Mhlanga succumbed to high blood pressure on Monday at his home in Barbourfields suburb, Bulawayo.

Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri yesterday said Cde Mhlanga was among the earliest fighters to be trained for war.

“He’s even senior to me. I went for training in 1964. I think he was there much earlier than everybody else, in 1963, I think,” said Rtd Brig-Gen Mutinhiri.

“He’s one of our very senior cadres. People like (Emmerson) Mnangagwa would know him.”

Born in Red Bank, Nyamandlovu in Matabeleland North Province, he was the third born in a family of five. Cde Mhlanga did his primary education at The United Methodist School in Makokoba in the early 1940s, up to standard six.

After school he was employed as an office worker at the Rhodesian Board of Trustees.

In 1954 he was arrested for buying and eating food at a no-go area for blacks. He had bought food at a place along Abercorn Street, now Jason Moyo Street where the main OK Store is located today.

He was among the pioneers seconded for military training by Zapu.

Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, a war veteran said Cde Mhlanga was involved in the Hwange Battle executed by Zipra jointly with South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe.

He said earlier they went together to Zambia and Cde Mhlanga was selected to go to China while he headed for the Soviet Union.

He said when they came back they formed the first military wing of Zapu in 1965.

“I first knew him when we joined the NDP. We were together in the youth. We carried all sorts of things together,” said Dr Dabengwa.

As a youth , some of the works of sabotage Cde Mhlanga carried out with his colleagues include destroying electricity pylons near Bulawayo and attempting to blow-up the Harare Main Post Office, but the operation was abandoned after the premature explosion of the bomb as it was being timed, killing one person.

At Independence Mhlanga received his demobilisation package.

His son Gilbert Mhlanga who is the family spokesperson said his father went into business after the war.

“After independence he formed a private company with fellow war veterans. He never wanted to survive on handouts and also had a small farm in Paddonhurst and Greenspan,” said Mhlanga.

Cde Mhlanga is survived by wife Evelyn, two sons, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mourners are gathered at 97 Ntabazinduna Flats in Barbourfields. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.