Cde Joshua Malinga buried at national shrine
Story by Josephine Mugiyo
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the late national hero, Cde Joshua Malinga as an individual who played a significant role in representing the needs of persons with disabilities.
He was speaking at the burial of Cde Malinga at the National Heroes Acre in Harare this Friday.
As Zimbabweans from various provinces gathered to bid farewell to the late Special Advisor to the President on Disability Issues, Cde Joshua Malinga at the National Heroes Acre in Harare Friday, they reflected on his contributions in crafting policies for people with disabilities and his role in politics.
His is a story of the resilience of a young boy who despite becoming a Victim of polio at the age of two, went on to be successful in life.
President Mnangagwa and the First Lady, Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa as well as the country’s two Vice Presidents; General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Colonel Retired Kembo Mohadi and senior government officials joined the family to lay to rest a gallant son.
The President went on to highlight the crucial role that Cde Malinga played in the formulation of policies for people with disabilities.
“As Senator, Politburo member, and my special adviser in government, Cde Malinga was instrumental in making sure that both the policies of the revolutionary party and government were alive and sensitive to the interests of persons with disabilities, irrespective of gender, age, race and social position,” he said.
Cde Malinga had unflinching love for his country.
The President added, “His Defence and unflinching love for our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe saw the late CDE Malinga placed under heinous dams illegal sanctions. We accord him well-deserved honour and a befitting farewell as we lay him to rest alongside his compatriots here at the National Heroes acre.”
At the National Heroes Acre lies many gallant sons and daughters of the soil, who now include Cde Malinga and President Mnangagwa reminded Zimbabweans that the independence did not come on a silver platter.
In the same vein, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is a sovereign nation and interference in internal affairs will not be allowed.
“The struggle to liberate Zimbabwe was not a walk in the park as the racist Rhodesian regime brutalised the black majority to preserve their dominance. Democracy did not come cheaply, today the same forces that orchestrated and supported the incarceration, maiming, and killing of our cadres for demanding independence and majority rule, come to us masquerading as champions of democracy.
“We will never forget. Day and night they continue in their devious attempts to create chaos in our country so that they can loot our resources. As a sovereign nations we will not allow interference in our internal affairs,” he reiterated.
President Mnangagwa said the nation must take a leaf from the illustrious life of the late national hero.
“I challenge persons with disabilities in particular and the nation at large to never allow ourselves and the nation at large, to never allow ourselves to be objects of charity and sympathy. We are all differentially abled. Let us therefore rally our energy, skills, capabilities, and competencies to build modernize, and industrialise Zimbabwe,” he said.
CDE Malinga succumbed to cancer on Friday last week after serving the nation in various capacities, which include being the Executive Mayor of Bulawayo and Special Advisor to the President on Disability Issues.
