Story by Panashe Nagoli
GOVERNMENT officials, colleagues and family members have paid tribute to national hero Cde Cosmas Chiringa, describing him as a committed public servant whose work spanned both the liberation struggle and post-independence administration.
Cde Chiringa, who served as Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Harare Metropolitan Province, died recently. His body was taken to his family home in Newlands before being moved to party offices in the capital, where mourners gathered to pay their respects.
At a memorial service held this Tuesday, church representatives recalled his strong religious faith.
“We worked closely with him at the church; he was truly committed to his faith and God,” pastor Apostle Isaiah Zhanje said.
From the family residence in Newlands, the body was taken to the ZANU PF Harare Province Offices, where family, friends and colleagues got a chance to bid farewell to the late liberation struggle veteran.
Colleagues described him as a dedicated public servant.
“We met during the liberation struggle and then again in independent Zimbabwe, and in Harare, he worked tirelessly to provide development.
“He understood the notion of supremacy of party over government and always made sure that the provincial coordination was perfect.
“ I can testify to the commitment that he had in making sure that the lives of Zimbabweans are uplifted every day, he was truly dedicated,” colleagues said.
Harare Metropolitan Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Charles Tavengwa who worked closely with the national hero in advancing Government’s development and devolution agenda, said the late national hero was a hardworking man.
“He joined us in 2023, and he was very dependable and never shook under pressure. He came to work every day with a renewed purpose to serve the people of Harare,” he said.
According to his last born, Cde Chiringa’s favourite statement was, ‘a revolution never dies’, and that sentiment was echoed at the memorial service.
The body will lie in state at Charles Gumbo Barracks, and the late senior government official will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Monday next week.
