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Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau

Former Zanu-PF provincial chairperson for Manicaland and career civil servant, Cde Tinaye Elisha Nzirasha Chugudu who died on Wednesday, has been declared a national hero in honour of his contribution before and after independence.

President Mnangagwa has since sent a message of condolence to the Chigudu family and described him as a principled man.

Zanu PF Politburo member, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira was dispatched by the President yesterday to deliver the message of the decision by the party to declare Cde Chigudu a national hero.

He delivered the message to mourners gathered at his Mount Pleasant residence in, Harare yesterday.

Cde Mandiwanzira was accompanied by the party’s Central Committee member, Dr Jenfan Muswere, who is also Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister and Makoni West legislator.

Former legislator for Buhera North and Zanu PF Central Committee member, Cde Willian Mutomba, was among those at the funeral wake.

In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said Cde Chigudu demonstrated bravery when he became one of the first cadres to be trained to fight in the liberation struggle.

“I received with deep sorrow and sadness, news of the untimely death of Cde Tinaye Elisha Nzirasha Chigudu, a veteran of our liberation struggle, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, former Governor of Manicaland Province and former ZANU PF Manicaland Provincial Chairman,” he said. 

“Cde Chigudu was among the brave sons and daughters of the soil who took a stand and fought for the Independence of Zimbabwe.

“He was one of the first combatants to be sent for training in North Korea under the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), the military wing of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU).”

President Mnangagwa added that Cde Chigudu demonstrated his bravery when he was deployed as an intelligence operative in the then Salisbury. The critical information he gathered regarding the modus operandi of the racist Rhodesian forces assisted the guerilla operations and recruitment of young Zimbabweans for guerilla training.

Cde Chigudu, said President Mnangagwa, was arrested and imprisoned for 12 years for his revolutionary role.

“As he pursued the important mission, Cde Chigudu was captured and imprisoned for 12 years by the Rhodesian regime. After his release from prison, Cde Chigudu crossed into Zambia, reunited with his fellow comrades and resumed his duties and chores of the armed war of liberation. “Cde Chigudu was a principled cadre who served the ruling ZANU PF Party and the Government with unquestionable allegiance, loyalty and dedication,” he said.

President Mnangagwa described him as a fountain of wisdom who offered wise counsel and advice in conducting both party and Government business, drawing from his vast experiences. 

“On behalf of the party, ZANU PF, Government, my family and on my behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Chigudu Family on this sad loss. 

“May the family derive comfort from the contribution he made to this great nation. In recognition of his immense contribution to our nation, both before and after Independence, the ZANU PF Politburo agreed to accord him the status of national hero. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa

In his message to mourners yesterday, Cde Mandiwanzira, who is also Nyanga South legislator, said there was unanimity among Politburo members when the issue of the hero status of Cde Chigudu came up for discussion.

“I have come here with a message from His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, who said he was deeply touched by the death of Cde Chigudu. “He said Cde Chigudu ought to be conferred with the highest honour of a national hero owing to his contribution. 

“When President Mnangagwa consulted his colleagues, there was unanimity that he deserved to be a national hero,” said Cde Mandiwanzira.

He said Cde Chigudu remained principled and never wavered up until the end.

“Unlike cadres who made huge contributions but later deviated from the ethos of the liberation struggle, Cde Chigudu remained steadfast,” said Cde Mandiwanzira.

Cde Chigudu’s brother, Mr Tafiramambo Chigudu, said the family felt humbled by the decision of the party and Government to confer their relative the highest honour.

“I want to thank the President, the party and the Government for the honour conferred on our relative. 

“We do not take this honour for granted because not every person is granted that honour. We are elated as a family,” said Mr Chigudu.

In an interview, his widow, Mrs Ester Chigudu, described him as a loving husband and father. 

“He helped a lot of people in the family even within the extended family. His death is quite painful. He has been unwell for a long time,” she said.

His daughter, Rudo, said her father was determined to see them prosper and do well in education.

Cde Chigudu was born on August 13, 1942. He had his early education at Chigudu School, Cyrene Mission and Harare Secondary School where he was expelled in 1964 because of his political activism.

He left the country in 1964 and went to Zambia under ZAPU. He then trained guerilla warfare in the Democratic Republic of Korea as a ZIPRA cadre. 

Upon his return he was deployed in the country as an intelligence officer. In May 1965, he was captured and detained in Gonakudzingwa, Gweru and finally Whawha.

He was in detention for 12 years and was released in 1977 and exiled. He went to the UK and was enrolled at Exeter University where he studied law between 1978 and 1981.

On coming home, he joined the civil service, first as under Secretary (Legal Affairs) Ministry of Transport from 1981. He was appointed Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs and then Permanent Secretary in the same Ministry from 1994 to 2004.

He later became Permanent Secretary for Mines and Mining Development from 2004 to 2005. He was then appointed Governor and Resident Minister of Manicaland in 2005 and retired in 2008.

He is the former ZANU PF provincial chairman of Manicaland and worked as a senior consultant under the United Nations Development Programme to structure the Ministry of Interior for South Sudan. 

At the time of his death, he was farming in Makoni District.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs Esther Chigudu and seven children.

Mourners are gathered at Number 9, Belsize Close, Northwood, Mount Pleasant in Harare.