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The late Cde Black Jesus

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
FORMER war veteran’s leader in Masvingo Cde Black Jesus, real name Francis Zimuto, has died.

He was 62.

The controversial national war veterans’ secretary for environment, who was also Masvingo Chief Provincial National Youth Service commandant, succumbed to a liver ailment at his rural home in Gutu at around 3AM yesterday.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Mourners are gathered at his rural home in Mugoni Village under Chief Makore.

Masvingo war veterans provincial chairman Cde Tendeukai Chinooneka said: “I can confirm the death of one of our prominent war veterans in Masvingo province and at national level Cde Black Jesus. I received the news in the morning. I am away in Kwekwe on university business. I am supervising students on attachment.

“He had a minor operation in Bulawayo recently and was at his rural home when his condition deteriorated. I visited him on Wednesday last week”.

Cde Chinooneka, who is also a lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), said the death of Cde Zimuto was a heavy blow to war veterans.

“Black Jesus was an exemplary leader and we depended on him for guidance. We are deeply saddened to learn of his death as we all thought he would recover. We have lost a cadre as war veterans, both nationally and at provincial level,” he said.

Cde Zimuto participated in the liberation struggle where he was in the high command in ZIPRA before being attested into the Zimbabwe National Army at Independence. While in the army he rose to the rank of captain.

Cde Zimuto was the first person to invade a farm belonging to a white commercial farmer in 2000.

He lost his wife some years ago and is survived by five children.

@walterbmswazie2