By Bulawayo Correspondent
THE late Mafela Trust director and former ZIPRA veteran Zephaniah Nkomo, who died last Sunday aged 70, was buried at the Nkulumane provincial heroes’ acre in Bulawayo Thursday.
Nkomo was declared a provincial hero amid strong reservations from Zapu and other ZIPRA cadres who felt he deserved to be accorded national hero status due to his immense contribution during the liberation struggle.
Speaking at his burial, Tshinga Dube, a former ZIPRA commander, chairperson of the Mafela Trust, and Zanu PF Politburo member, acknowledged the critical role Nkomo played documenting Zapu and ZIPRA’s liberation struggle history through his work as the director of Mafela Trust.
By Bulawayo Correspondent
THE late director of Mafela Trust, Zephaniah Nkomo (70) has become the latest senior ex-ZIPRA freedom fighter to be denied national hero status by the ruling Zanu PF government.
Nkomo died last Sunday evening at a private hospital in Bulawayo.
However, the decision by the government not to accord the struggle stalwart, a national hero status has left the Zapu leadership seething with anger.
Zapu spokesperson, Iphithule Maphosa described the late Nkomo as one of the finest soldiers who participated in the armed struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the untimely departure of one of the people’s finest soldiers from the liberation struggle. Comrade Zephaniah was a Russian trained intelligence officer of the National Security and Order (NSO), who offered distinguished service to ZAPU and ZIPRA during the liberation struggle,” Maphosa told NewZimbabwe.com.