Samson Zituta
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa will preside over the burial of National Hero Brigadier General (Retired) Samuel Mpabanga at the National Heroes Acre this Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has announced.
In a statement, the ministry said the late liberation war stalwart “will be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday, February 18 2026”, adding that “His Excellency, The President, Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, will preside over this burial.”
Mourners are currently gathered at 4 McGee Road, Savestown, in Bulawayo.
According to the ministry, the body of the late national hero will this Monday, from 1000hrs, be ferried to Plot 20 Jannee Farm in West Nicholson for a brief ceremony. The cortege is expected to depart the farm at 1200hrs for his rural homestead in Mapate Village, Gwanda South, where a church service will be held in his honour.
The remains are scheduled to return to Bulawayo at 1500hrs, where he will lie in state at Doves Funeral Parlour.
On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, the late Brigadier General Mpabanga will be airlifted to Charles Gumbo Barracks, where he will again lie in state ahead of the burial.
“Burial proceedings will commence on Wednesday, the 18th of February 2026, and mourners are expected to be seated by 0700hrs,” the ministry said.
Brigadier General (Rtd) Mpabanga, whose Chimurenga name, was Moffat Nkomo was born on August 31 1956 under Chief Mathe in Gwanda.
He joined the liberation struggle after completing his Secondary education in 1977.
The late national hero was trained in Zambia before proceeding to the then Soviet Union for further training.
At the height of the liberation struggle, he was appointed instructor at Solwezi and later deployed at Sisvonga along the Zambezi River.
He was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army at independence and served in various Commanding capacities both locally and regionally until retirement in 2023.
Brigadier General (RTD) Mpabanga died on the 9th of this month after a long illness and is survived by his wife, Sethekele and four children.
Mourners are gathered at House Number 4 McGee Road, Sauerstown in Bulawayo.
