Scores of people gathered at the National Heroes Acre as Zimbabwe, today, laid to rest National Hero Brigadier General (Retired) Mathias Tizirai Ngarava, also known as Cde Elias Chimurenga, a distinguished military officer and liberation war veteran.
Senior Government officials, members of the Zimbabwe National Army, ZANU PF leadership, family members and citizens from across the country attended the burial ceremony to pay their final respects.
Speaking at the burial, Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, said the nation was mourning at a time when it continued to lose gallant fighters of the liberation struggle.
“The departure of Cde Ngarava comes at a time when our nation continues to lose our gallant liberation fighters. We grieve deeply over these sad losses,” he said.
“On behalf of President Mnangagwa, our Government, the ruling party Zanu PF, my family and on my own behalf, I express my heartfelt condolences over his loss.”
Dr Chiwenga said Cde Ngarava’s generation did not take up arms out of ambition but out of obligation to confront injustice and inequality.
“His generation did not choose war out of ambition, but it was an obligation. They defied unequal distribution of economic resources. It was a life of sacrifice, discipline and commitment. Independence was purchased at a high cost,” he said
Born the fifth child in his family, Brig-Gen Ngarava attended primary school in Chivi District before joining the liberation struggle in 1976. After completing military training in Syria, he operated in Gaza Area Four during the war of liberation.
After Independence, Cde Ngarava was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army in 1981 as a sergeant. Dr Chiwenga said his dedication and performance saw him rise through the ranks.
“Bound together by the mission of safeguarding the nation he sacrificed for the liberation of Zimbabwe, he was attested in the army in 1981 as a sergeant. Due to his exceptional performance and dedication to duty, he was commissioned lieutenant.”
The Acting President said the late national hero undertook several military and non-military courses, including the Basic Officers Course, Adult Education Course and the Joint Command Course, and rose from sergeant in 1981 to colonel in 2020.
“As a result of hard work, selflessness and dedication to Zimbabwe, he was awarded the DRC Campaign Medal, Mozambique Campaign Medal, Long Exemplary Medal and the Independence Medal,” said Dr Chiwenga.
Turning to national development, Dr Chiwenga urged Zimbabweans to remain united and focused on economic transformation.
“Our duty is to implement the country’s vision through unity of purpose and economic transformation,” he said.
“We need to take note of significant progress under NDS1 as we move to NDS2. Zimbabwe stands poised for accelerated growth and realising our vision of becoming an upper middle-income economy.”
He called on citizens to honour the legacy of liberation heroes by fostering unity and working towards national prosperity.
“Let us foster the spirit of unity as we build a stronger and more harmonious Zimbabwe as we continue to work towards the prosperity of our motherland,” he said.
