Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE chairman of the Beitbridge district war veterans’ chapter and renowned cattle farmer, Cde Phillimon Adziliwi Mbedzi, has died. He was 64. Family spokesperson Cde Samuel Mulaudzi said Cde Mbedzi succumbed to liver and kidney failure and was buried at his rural home in Beitbridge on Saturday.
He said Cde Mbedzi died while he was being transferred from Beitbridge District hospital to Gwanda Provincial Hospital for further treatment.
Cde Mlaudzi said the district had lost a hard working veteran of the liberation struggle.
At the time of his death, he had just been elected vice-chairperson of the war veterans association in Matabeleland South.
Cde Mbedzi was married to the late Maria Mulaudzi and is survived by nine children.
The national war veterans’ association chairperson, who is also the Minister of War Veterans Affairs, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, on hearing of Cde Mbedzi’s death, drove straight away from Harare to attend his burial.
In his graveside eulogy, Cde Mutsvangwa conveyed condolences from President Mugabe and the First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe. He described the late Cde Mbedzi as “a loyal and dedicated party cadre who at a tender age joined the liberation struggle in 1976 and got his guerrilla training in Mozambique.”
“On completion of the training together with other cadres, they were deployed to the frontline to confront Rhodesian forces.
The minister emphasised the need for war vets, war collaborators and ex-detainees to remain united and committed to jealously guard the gains of the liberation struggle.
He indicated that his ministry would engage in various business programmes to improve the welfare of freedom fighters.