News / National
CIO chief declared a national hero
12 Apr 2011 at 04:51hrs | Views
CENTRAL Intelligence Organisation boss, Menard Livingstone Muzariri has died, and has been declared a national liberation hero.
He was 56.
He was Deputy Director General in the President's Office, and died died at St Annes Hospital in Harare early yesterday morning after a short illness. Several Government officials, including Vice President Mujuru paid their condolences to the Muzariri family yesterday.
VP Mujuru said the liberation war bound them together, creating a relationship that was stronger than "blood relationships".
"We worked together very well with Cde Muzariri during the war. Someone who saved you became very close to you. People like Cde Muzariri continued working for economic empowerment of the people of Zimbabwe after the liberation struggle," said VP Mujuru.
Service chiefs and senior Government officials said Muzariri was a dedicated cadre who steadfastly pursued the values and principles of the struggle until his death. Muzariri played a pivotal role during Zimbabwe's liberation struggle. He left the country in 1973 when he was a Form Two pupil at Mavhuradonha Secondary School and crossed into Mozambique to join the liberation war.
He received his initial military training at Mgagao Camp in Tanzania before proceeding to do an advanced instructor's course at the same camp. The President's office said: "Due to his unwavering loyalty and diligence, Cde Muzariri was tasked to work as a General Staff Liaison Officer from November 1975 to February 1977. "This was a difficult and challenging period that called for fortitude and single mindedness." It said Cde Muzariri was at the forefront during the war in ensuring that Zimbabwe gained its independence from the British.
"He was later posted to Zambia in 1978 where he worked at the party's office as an administrator, a position that called for sobriety and clarity of mind as the party's administrative machinery was essential in assisting the war effort," the statement said. After independence, Muzariri who had risen to be a member of the Zanla general staff, worked in the then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe's Office as an intelligence officer. He trained at prestigious intelligence institutions in Africa and abroad. Muzariri obtained internationally recognised intelligence qualifications and this saw him being promoted to the post of Head of Division in 1984. "He was later promoted on account of his professional acumen and good demeanour to the post of Director Internal in April 1997," the President's Office said. In 2003, Muzariri was appointed Deputy Director General, a rank he held until the time of his death. He is survived by his wife Esther Chiremba and five children.
He was 56.
He was Deputy Director General in the President's Office, and died died at St Annes Hospital in Harare early yesterday morning after a short illness. Several Government officials, including Vice President Mujuru paid their condolences to the Muzariri family yesterday.
VP Mujuru said the liberation war bound them together, creating a relationship that was stronger than "blood relationships".
"We worked together very well with Cde Muzariri during the war. Someone who saved you became very close to you. People like Cde Muzariri continued working for economic empowerment of the people of Zimbabwe after the liberation struggle," said VP Mujuru.
Service chiefs and senior Government officials said Muzariri was a dedicated cadre who steadfastly pursued the values and principles of the struggle until his death. Muzariri played a pivotal role during Zimbabwe's liberation struggle. He left the country in 1973 when he was a Form Two pupil at Mavhuradonha Secondary School and crossed into Mozambique to join the liberation war.
He received his initial military training at Mgagao Camp in Tanzania before proceeding to do an advanced instructor's course at the same camp. The President's office said: "Due to his unwavering loyalty and diligence, Cde Muzariri was tasked to work as a General Staff Liaison Officer from November 1975 to February 1977. "This was a difficult and challenging period that called for fortitude and single mindedness." It said Cde Muzariri was at the forefront during the war in ensuring that Zimbabwe gained its independence from the British.
"He was later posted to Zambia in 1978 where he worked at the party's office as an administrator, a position that called for sobriety and clarity of mind as the party's administrative machinery was essential in assisting the war effort," the statement said. After independence, Muzariri who had risen to be a member of the Zanla general staff, worked in the then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe's Office as an intelligence officer. He trained at prestigious intelligence institutions in Africa and abroad. Muzariri obtained internationally recognised intelligence qualifications and this saw him being promoted to the post of Head of Division in 1984. "He was later promoted on account of his professional acumen and good demeanour to the post of Director Internal in April 1997," the President's Office said. In 2003, Muzariri was appointed Deputy Director General, a rank he held until the time of his death. He is survived by his wife Esther Chiremba and five children.
Source - ZG
