Late High Court judge declared national hero

The late Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema has been declared a national hero.

The late Justice Mutema whose Chimurenga name was Kingsley Dube Watema died at Mater Dei Hospital last week on Friday after having collapsed the previous day.

Cde Mutema was born on 27 February 1959 and joined the liberation war in November 1977.

He attained basic training in Mozambique in 1978 and after a three months deployment was recalled from the front.

Cde Mutema was deployed to Romania where he was taught physics and anti-aircraft radar.

He was demobilised in 1982 after returning from Romania where he then pursued a career in the judiciary which culminated in his appointment in May 2010 as a judge of the High Court.

In March, Justice Mutema was appointed to represent Zimbabwe as a principal judge in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

At the time of his death, he was the senior judge in charge of the Bulawayo station of the High Court of Zimbabwe.

Justice Mutema is survived by four children.

Mourners are gathered at Number 28 Churchill Avenue, Marlborough in Harare.