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THE passing on of Retired Major-General, Zanu (PF) Consultative Assembly member, Ambassador and former Governor and Resident Minister for Matabeleland North Province, Jevan Maseko whose nom de guerre was “Cde Enock Tshangane” on May 20, 2013, robbed the country of one of its revolutionary, loyal and illustrious sons. Cde Jevan Ben Maseko died at Mater Dei Hospital, Bulawayo after he succumbed to renal failure, amyloidosis cancer and diabetes.

He was 70.

Cde Maseko was born on the 1st of January, 1943 in the Hope Fountain area near Sigola, close to Bulawayo. The late hero was born to Chikakumbila Ben Maseko and Sitshokupi (née Ngwenya) who were peasant farmers in the Pumula and Sigola areas. He was born in a family of eight children, four boys and four girls with Cde Jevan being the last born. 

Cde Maseko did his Sub A to standard Six at Nkulumane Primary School in Mpopoma. He proceeded to Hope Fountain Mission and attained carpentry and joinery skills. 

He worked for several companies, including Johnson and Fletcher and Russell Company, where he experienced unfair labour practices, a phenomenon that was the order of the day in white owned companies during colonial days. Having been denied spaces to get formal education by the discriminatory colonial system, Cde Jevan Maseko only managed to further his education at the advent of the country’s Independence. He studied through correspondence and attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Politics and Economics with Knightsbridge University in the United Kingdom, Salesmanship and Marketing with London Chamber of Commerce and Diploma in Public Administration at the University of Zimbabwe and a Certificate in General Management with the Zimbabwe Institute of Management.

The late Cde Maseko’s political career started when he joined early nationalist Youth League and Zhanda defiance campaigns against the Rhodesian regime in the early 50s. 

As a youth activist, he worked with the likes of the late national hero Cde Masala Sibanda and Cdes Ben Dikiza Maphosa, Bigboy Maseko and Report Mphoko, among others. 

As a young and courageous cadre, Maseko exhibited leadership traits and was appointed Secretary of the Youth League in Mpopoma Central in 1963 and in 1964, he became Deputy Chairman of Mpopoma Central. After Winston Field’s (Rhodesian Prime Minister 1962-1964) address at the White City Stadium in 1964, Cde Jevan and other young nationalists protested violently against the settler regime. As resistance intensified in the then Southern Rhodesia with many nationalist leaders arrested throughout the country, Cde Maseko was arrested in 1965. He was sentenced to three years in jail with hard labour at Khami Prison alongside 15 other “Zhanda” youths. During his stay in prison, Cde Maseko met other leaders like Cdes Daniel Madzimbamuto and Cephas Msipa who were also serving their jail terms. 

After serving his three-year term at Khami Prison in 1967, he was again incarcerated and restricted at the notorious Gonakudzingwa where some of the icons of our liberation struggle such as the late Vice-Presidents, Joshua Nkomo and Joseph Msika, were also imprisoned. 

Upon his release in 1968, the late Cde Maseko worked for a short time in Bulawayo as a professional carpenter and in the same year decided to leave Rhodesia for Zambia through Botswana to join the liberation struggle.

In July 1969, Cde Maseko received military training in infantry at Morogoro Camp, Tanzania, for nine months. After the training, Cde Maseko was appointed Platoon Commander. In the period 1971 to 1974, Cde Maseko was working as a Military Instructor. During the same period, he was also appointed Chief of Staff of the camp. After Morogoro, he went for further military training as a battalion commander in the then Soviet Union (now Russia). He later became a commandant at Morogoro before being deployed to Mozambique as Deputy Chief of Operations on the formation of the Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA) in 1975. 

In 1976, Cde Maseko was deployed to Zambia, where together with the late Cde Masala Sibanda and Brigadier General (Rtd) Mazinyane were elevated into the ZPRA High Command. Cde Maseko became the Deputy Chief of Operations. Upon the passing on of the Late Sotsha Ngwenya in 1976, Cde Maseko was appointed Chief of Operations of ZPRA Forces in 1977. In June 1978, while returning from a visit to forward bases along the Zambezi River, Cde Maseko survived a landmine bomb attack which blasted their vehicle and claimed the life of the late ZPRA Commander Alfred Nikita Mangena and left him injured. In 1979, Cde Maseko was appointed ZPRA Chief of Staff taking over from Brigadier General (Rtd) Ambrose Mutinhiri, a post he held until Independence

On the attainment of Independence in 1980, the late hero was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army. On 16 April 1981, Cde Maseko was appointed to the rank of substantive Major General. Due to his exemplary leadership and commitment to duty, he was appointed Chief of Staff, Administration and Quartermaster in 1984. He played a pivotal role in the integration of the three former warring armies namely: ZANLA, ZPRA and the Rhodesian Army into the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe through his participation in the Joint High Command.

During his long and illustrious service. Cde Maseko was awarded the following medals:

· Liberation Medal (Gold) for his gallantry and selfless dedication to the liberation of Zimbabwe.

· Independence Medal – for his contribution towards the Independence of Zimbabwe.

· Ten Years’ Service Medal – for ten years continuous service that saw him immensely contribute during the integration, formation and development of the Zimbabwe National Army.

· Long and Exemplary Service Medal for fifteen years continuous and exemplary service.

· Mozambique Campaign Medal for his contribution towards the restoration of peace and stability in Mozambique.

· The Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit.

 Cde Maseko retired from the Zimbabwe National Army on 31 October 1987. Upon his retirement, Major General Maseko was appointed Deputy Minister in the then Ministry of Political Affairs from 1988 to 1990. Cde Maseko was a member of the Central Committee of Zanu PF Harare Province from 1989 to 1994. From 1990 to 1992, he was appointed Governor of Matabeleland North Province. Cde Maseko was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Algeria from 1993 to 1994; Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 1995 to 1999.

In August 1999, Cde Maseko was appointed Ambassador to Cuba and served in that post up to December 2006 when he returned home. From Cuba, he was appointed Ambassador to Angola but could not take up the assignment due to ill health.

Major General (Rtd) Maseko is survived by his two children, Gugulethu Maseko (boy) and Nomagugu (girl) and a granddaughter.

Taken from “A Guide to Heroes Acre”