Story by Memory Chamisa
THE late Major General (Retired) Evaristo Dzihwema has been remembered as a distinguished soldier and committed public servant whose career spanned both the military and the civil service.
Tributes were paid during a church service held at Charles Gumbo Barracks in Harare on Wednesday evening after his body was repatriated from India, where he died last Thursday while receiving treatment.
Senior government officials, family members and friends gathered at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to receive the body before it was taken to Charles Gumbo Barracks, where it will lie in state.
His son, Tapfumangeyi Dzihwema, described his father as a humble and loving man who inspired his family to strive for excellence.
“I was with him till his death in India; he was a loving father, humble and he motivated us to reach our goals as his children. We have lost our role model who taught us that we should make the most of time spent with family.”
His brother, Shadreck Dzihwema, said the family had lost a unifying figure and pillar of strength.
“He was my brother, but to me, he was a father as he raised me and taught me what life is about. We have lost our unifier and rock that ensured everyone was taken care of. It is sad that despite all the efforts to save his life, God has decided otherwise.”
Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, Senator Monica Mavhunga, said Major General (Rtd) Dzihwema was a principled leader who served the country with distinction.
“The late Major General was one of the people who showed me the ropes when I was assigned to lead the Ministry. He was in sync with his fellow liberation cadres who would come to the office with their grievances, and he would always take time to listen to them and proffer solutions. He was committed to ensuring war veterans are taken care of and as a Ministry, we are at a loss.”
Major General (Rtd) Dzihwema served in several senior positions, including as Chief Director in the Ministry of Youth and later in the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs.
He also served as a member of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board.
Remembered for his dedication to national service, Major General (Rtd) Dzihwema was among the generation of liberation war veterans and senior military officers who transitioned into public administration, contributing to government programmes aimed at improving the welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle.
