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Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau

ACTING President Constantino Chiwenga is today expected to preside over the burial of the late national hero Brigadier-General (Retired) Shadreck Dingaan Ndabambi at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

The National Heroes Acre

In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage said Acting President Chiwenga will preside over the burial ceremony of Brig-Gen Ndabambi who died last week at his farm in Glendale, Mashonaland Central province.

A funeral parade for the late national hero was held yesterday at Charles Gumbo Barracks where he was described as someone who stood firm for justice and defended the country’s interests.

After the funeral parade, his body was airlifted to his farm in Glendale where it was expected to lie in State before being brought to Harare this morning for burial.

Zimbabwe National Army Commander, Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe, presided over the funeral parade where he delivered a eulogy for Brig-Gen (Retired) Ndabambi.

In his address, Lt-Gen Sanyatwe described Brig-Gen Ndabambi (Rtd), whose Chimurenga name was “Dingani Kimathi”, as humble and a father figure.

“As we pay our last respects to the late General, we must not forget the sacrifices that he and other heroes and heroines paid for the freedom of this country. 

“It remains a great challenge to us all to defend the values that they stood and fought for. We must therefore defend Zimbabwe’s independence and sovereignty at all costs taking a leaf from the life of the late General. We must uphold the principles and values that define the efforts of his generation, indeed a generation of fighters,” said Lt-Gen Sanyatwe.

He paid tribute to Brig-Gen Ndabambi, describing his death as painful.

“On behalf of the Zimbabwe National Army, general officers, senior officers, officers, men and women of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in general and on my own behalf, I would like to pay my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and relatives of the late Brig-Gen (Retired) Ndabambi,” Lt-Gen Sanyatwe said.

“His untimely death is very saddening and painful, not only to you but to all peace loving Zimbabweans. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces at large have lost a liberator, trusted and hardworking cadre who will be difficult to replace.”

He described the national hero as patriotic.

“To the late Brigadier-General Ndabambi, as we lay you to rest, you will be remembered for your immense contribution to the liberation struggle, standing firm for justice and defending Zimbabwe’s interests in all spheres. Today, what remains in our minds are the memories of a warm, likeable, fatherly figure, humble, patriotic, selfless team player whom the nation will dearly miss,” said Lt-Gen Sanyatwe.

In an interview, his uncle, Mr Solomon Musaka, described his nephew as a progressive person. 

“He had no time for idle talk, rumour mongering and was a very progressive person. He had retired to his farm, and was concentrating on looking after his family. So his death was a great loss to us as a family,” said Mr Musaka.

His sister, Angeline Rebo, described her brother as hardworking.

“He was a peacebuilder and unifier. He was keen to see the family united, I have been pained by his death,” she said.

The late Brig-Gen (Rtd) Ndabambi is survived by his wife, Seria Ndabambi, and two children.