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Brigadier General Misheck Tanyanyiwa

ZIMBABWE’S former defence attaché to China Brigadier General Misheck Tanyanyiwa who died in Beijing last week has been declared a national hero.
The late Brig-Gen Tanyanyiwa, who was 58, will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Sunday. Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo told journalists after the party’s politburo meeting that a team led by secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa would inform the Tanyanyiwa family of the decision.

“He was declared a national hero and he will be buried at the national shrine on Sunday,” he said.

“A team will be visiting the Tanyanyiwa family to make the necessary arrangements. I think it is led by Cde Mutasa, [Sydney] Sekeramayi and (Emmerson) Mnangagwa. They will brief the family and then arrangements will then be made.”

The late Brig-Gen Tanyanyiwa’s body arrived in the country on Tuesday accompanied by Zimbabwe’s ambassador to China Fredrick                       Shava.

He had been defence attaché to China for eight years.

The late Brig-Gen Tanyanyiwa joined the liberation struggle in 1975 and underwent military training at Mgagao in Tanzania.

His Chimurenga name was “Nemi Tichapedzerana” which when loosely translated means “with you we will sort each other out”.

After training, the late Tanyanyiwa participated in the struggle in different capacities and later played a pivotal role in the integration of the Zimbabwe National Army, transforming the Rhodesia Light Infantry into 1 Commando Battalion which he later commanded as its first ex-combatant black commanding officer.

He was awarded several medals during his service among them the Liberation Medal, Independence Medal, Ten Years Service Medal, Long and Exemplary Service Medal, Mozambique Campaign Medal, Democratic Republic of Congo Campaign Medal and the Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Award. – New Ziana.