Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
THE body of the late national hero Cde Luke Mushore has been taken to his farm in Centenary where it will lie in state.
The body will be returned to Harare on Sunday ahead of burial at the National Heroes Acre on Monday.
President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will preside over the burial of the decorated liberation war fighter and veteran politician.
As the nation continues to mourn, war veterans and political leaders in Mashonaland Central Province have remembered Cde Mushore as a trailblazer who opened the path for many cadres during the liberation struggle.
“I joined the liberation struggle in 1972, the same year as Cde Joboringo. We met at a Zambezi River crossing point where we were warned not to carry good luck charms. We continued to meet at several points during the war. His passing is a great loss to the war veterans’ fraternity,” Chairman of the ZANU PF Mashonaland Central War Veterans League, Cde Martin Kwainona said.
“We have lost a great fighter, a resolute leader who remained committed to the cause even after the war. That is why he was entrusted with the role of provincial chairman,” the Zimbabwe War Veterans Association’s National Secretary General, Cde Sam Parirenyatwa added.
Another veteran of the struggle, Cde Edson Gurupira paid tribute to the honour bestowed upon Cde Mushore, praising both President Mnangagwa and the ZANU PF party for recognising his contribution.
The Zanu PF Mashonaland Central leadership spoke on how Cde Joboringo contributed to the liberation of the country and played active political roles as the ruling party’s provincial chairman and legislator for two terms.
Born on June 15, 1949 in Madziwa, Mushore Village, Cde Joboringo decided to join the liberation struggle in 1972 while staying in Muzarabani district, Kagodo village under Chief Kasekete.
Together with other comrades, they launched an attack at Drumuda Farm in Centenary, before making an escape to lower Muzarabani, where they stayed for 2 days at Chadereka.
After days at Chadereka, the daring freedom fighters travelled to Chifombo which borders both Zambia and Mozambique and crossed into Zambia.
At independence, Cde Mushore was in Mtoko and got a job as a commissioner of police in 1980 at police headquarters.
He worked as a police commissioner for a while before he was reassigned to the Ministry of Sports and Culture in Chinhoyi.
After retiring from civil service, he then joined politics and became district party Chairman and rose to become provincial chairperson and was later elected Member of Parliament for Muzarabani South and North constituencies.
Cde Mushore is survived by 4 wives and 21 children.
Mourners are gathered at Baborn farm in Centenary.
