Story by Tamuka Charakupa
KADOMA – LIBERATION war hero Cde Hliziyo Msindazi, who died on Wednesday last week, has been buried at his Alabama plot in Kadoma.
The late Sanyati-based war veteran died after a short illness at the age of 67.
Relatives, fellow liberation fighters, and government officials described Cde Msindazi as a man who dedicated his life to serving the nation.
“My unassuming father remained grounded and committed to the cause of the liberation struggle. He was someone who was very passionate about ZANU PF and Zimbabwe to the end. As a family, we want to thank His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa for this honour,” his son, Mr Dumisani Msindazi said.
“His mother struggled to cope when he went to join the war. When others came back at Independence, Hliziyo did not return. Unknown to everyone at the time, he had been sent to Yugoslavia. In Yugoslavia, cadres were trained to help run the new administration after independence. He joined the police after his return and worked at Parliament, where he, ironically, had to salute the late Ian Smith and Rhodesian counterparts he had fought during the war,” the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable July Moyo said.
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Marian Chombo, said young people should shun drugs and advance the economic war.
“Cde Msindazi fought the war of liberation, but the war is not over yet. We now face the economic war, which needs everyone’s participation. This war is fought by everyone, including those regarded as born free. The government is pursuing policies that ensure Zimbabwe attains an upper-middle-income status by 2030, anchored on several empowerment programmes targeting youths, women, and special interest groups such as war veterans,” she said.
The burial was also attended by Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Owen Ncube, former Mbizo legislator Cde Vongaishe Mupereri, war veterans, collaborators, and ZANU PF party members.
The late liberation war hero joined the liberation struggle in 1976 after crossing into Mozambique, where he received military training.
Cde Msindazi was selected to undergo administration training in Yugoslavia and later joined the police upon his return after independence.
He rose through the ranks to become superintendent before he retired to pursue farming.
At the time of his death, he was the Chairperson of the War Veterans Wing in Sanyati and Secretary for Legal Affairs in the War Veterans Association for Sanyati District.
He is survived by his wife and seven children.
