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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
FREEDOM fighter and Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) National vice chairman Cde Thembinkosi Ndhlovu, who has been described as a food security hero, was buried yesterday at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes’ Acre.

Cde Ndhlovu, died on Tuesday following a short illness.

GMAZ national chairman, Mr Tafadzwa Musarara, while addressing mourners at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes’ Acre described Cde Ndhlovu as a hard worker who fought for the rights of black farmers and black business people.

“The grain milling industry joins the Ndhlovu family and the entire nation in mourning the passing on of a hard working and astute businessman, a committed leader, a veteran of the armed struggle, a loving father and the vice national chairman of the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Musarara.

He said Cde Ndhlovu was an asset in the industry and was one of the 13 surviving millers out of a total of 148 milling companies in the region.

“Since 2007, only 13 out of 148 millers are still operational. This shows that he was not only a hero with the gun but was an even greater hero in food security,” said Mr Musarara.

He urged the family to carry on the legacy of the deceased who was the owner of Mgigwa Milling company.

Mr Musarara said black people should learn from the whites whose businesses are passed from generation to generation.

“Let us as a family strive to grow the business he has left as opposed to fighting,” said Mr Musarara.

Cde Ndhlovu was born in 1952 in Gwanda and attended Nhwali and Manama primary schools.

Cde Ndhlovu briefly worked in Colleen Bawn and South Africa before joining the liberation struggle in 1976 and his pseudo name was Shungu. He was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army in 1981.

Cde Ndhlovu was buried alongside another liberation war veteran, Cde Robson Ncube who succumbed to a short illness.

Cde Ncube, whose war name was Chimurenga was born in was born in 1954.

He joined the struggle in the early 70s and was appointed as a section commander in 1976 under Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda.

He was integrated into the Zimbabwe National army in 1981 at Inkomo barracks.

He retired in 2007. — @andile_tshuma