Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
LIBERATION war hero the late Cde Patson Nedawa who died on Monday was laid to rest at the Mutare Provincial Heroes Acre at an event attended by hundreds of people this Saturday.
Family spokesperson, Mr Christopher Nedawa described their father as a unifier who managed to promote peace and unity among family members over and above his contribution towards nation-building.
“As a family, we are saddened by the death of our father. Our father was a fatherly figure to his family and his community at large. The honour bestowed on him by the government is testimony that he was not only a family hero but a revolutionary whose works were important to many. I want to thank the war veterans and the ruling party for such an honour.”
Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza says the late liberation war hero’s loyalty to the national cause remained unquestionable until his death.
“We are gathered here to lay to rest the late Cde Patson Nedawa who died on the 4th of December this year due to natural causes. The family, province, district and the whole nation were heartlessly robbed of a loyal and diligent large. His departure left a huge and irreplaceable void amongst his family,” reiterated Advocate Mugadza.
The late Cde Nedawa was born on the 18th of December 1957 in Chimanimani district.
He did his primary education at Zamba Primary School and could not proceed to secondary education due to the colonial bottleneck education system.
Cde Nedawa left the country for Mozambique to join the liberation struggle in 1975 and received his first military training in Tanzania.
He was later deployed to Hwedza in 1977 before being posted to Yugoslavia in 1978 for further military training.
In 1981, he was attested to the Zimbabwe National Army and retired in 1982 following the demobilisation programme.
Cde Nedawa has left behind a wife, Idah Mupunga Ferenyi and is survived by seven children and nine grandchildren.
