Story by Tamuka Charakupa
LIBERATION war hero, Cde Luka Phiri, who died at the age of 72 was declared Mashonaland West Provincial Hero and was buried in Kadoma this Thursday.
Family and friends described the late cadre as a family man and development champion for his community.
“As a family, we are thankful to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for awarding us this honour. We did not know that his works were being noticed and now we intend to carry on with his legacy, a legacy of uniting communities and driving development,” his wife, Gogo Magret Phiri said.
“We worked closely with the late comrade. He was an active member of the ruling party, ZANU PF. We have lost someone who was passionate about development,” ZANU PF, Central Committee member, Cde Absolom Zvidzai said.
War veteran, Cde Zachariah Ziyambi, who worked closely with the late liberation war hero during the struggle for independence thanked the Second Republic for implementing an inclusive development agenda.
The Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Marian Chombo said the province has been robbed of a development-oriented leader.
“On behalf of Mashonaland West Province, I would want to thank our President for affording us this honour. This testifies to the works done by the late cadre dating back to the war of liberation to the present day. Cde Phiri was a developmental-oriented leader who was passionate about the development of his community. His notable works include the establishment of Ingezi Housing Schemes which has since grown,” she said.
Cde Phiri was born in 1952 in Kadoma and attained his standard four and five education at Umnyati Power Station Primary School in 1968.
He joined the liberation struggle the following year and after independence, he was elected a councillor, before becoming a Deputy Mayor for Kadoma District.
Cde Phiri is survived by wife Magret, seven children and 25 grandchildren.
