News / National
'Chechnya' buries MDC-T activist
20 Apr 2014 at 17:12hrs | Views
GUTU - In the whole of Gutu District, there is only one ward which went to MDC-T.
Ward 27 in Gutu South is obviously a source of headaches for the ruling Zanu-PF as the party lost this ward in the year 2 000 and never managed to win it back since then. In fact in 2005, it was again the only ward in the whole of Gutu that MDC-T held while the rest were in the hands of Zanu-PF.
The ward is nicknamed Chechnya.
Last Saturday, Chechnya did not hold a funeral, going by what went on at the burial of Edward Gono, a leading MDC-T youth activist. Party members were actually holding celebrations as the whole of Gono Village turned into a sea of red, sang and danced the day and night away. Supporters came from as far afield as Harare, Masvingo, Chiredzi and Mutare to bury the MDC-T activist described by speakers as daring.
Gono was the youth district chairman for Masvingo Urban.
He was killed in a car accident in Chivi last Thursday after a pick-up truck where he was a passenger at the back overturned. He died four hours later at Masvingo General Hospital before he was admitted into hospital.
Speaker after speaker said Eddie, as he was popularly known was the man who would be sent to trouble spots. He would meet anyone ounce for ounce and would come back intact. He was at one time thrown deep in Mwenezi where MDC-T had failed to campaign in 2008 because of an alleged notorious Zanu-PF war veteran who unleashed violence.
Sources close to Eddie said there was 'war' in the area until aspiring candidates were able to move around the area freely.
Former Mayor Alderman Fermias Chakabuda, described Gono as a selfless man who worked for democracy and justice.
"We have lost a man whose only quest was justice. He became agitated if he saw any traversity to justice. He was candid and was not driven by the want of money. He also wanted to see the best men and women being elected to leadership posts in the party," said Chakabuda.
Ward 27 Councillor, Jefrey Tangemhare who broke into tears as he spoke said Ward 27 became Chechnya because of Eddie. He said Eddie was a strategist who would take a chunk of his time to campaign for the MDC-T in his home ward. He said Gono would always be at home when things were difficult.
Masvingo Mayor, Hubert Fidze and several councillors from Masvingo attended the funeral.
Eriam Musendekwa who lost to Dr Paul Chimedza in Gutu South Constituency described Gono as a soldier for democracy.
Gono's brother, Johannes Gono who is also a former councillor for Ward 2 in Masvingo said the family had lost a pillar.
Eddie is survived by his wife and seven children.
Ward 27 in Gutu South is obviously a source of headaches for the ruling Zanu-PF as the party lost this ward in the year 2 000 and never managed to win it back since then. In fact in 2005, it was again the only ward in the whole of Gutu that MDC-T held while the rest were in the hands of Zanu-PF.
The ward is nicknamed Chechnya.
Last Saturday, Chechnya did not hold a funeral, going by what went on at the burial of Edward Gono, a leading MDC-T youth activist. Party members were actually holding celebrations as the whole of Gono Village turned into a sea of red, sang and danced the day and night away. Supporters came from as far afield as Harare, Masvingo, Chiredzi and Mutare to bury the MDC-T activist described by speakers as daring.
Gono was the youth district chairman for Masvingo Urban.
He was killed in a car accident in Chivi last Thursday after a pick-up truck where he was a passenger at the back overturned. He died four hours later at Masvingo General Hospital before he was admitted into hospital.
Speaker after speaker said Eddie, as he was popularly known was the man who would be sent to trouble spots. He would meet anyone ounce for ounce and would come back intact. He was at one time thrown deep in Mwenezi where MDC-T had failed to campaign in 2008 because of an alleged notorious Zanu-PF war veteran who unleashed violence.
Sources close to Eddie said there was 'war' in the area until aspiring candidates were able to move around the area freely.
Former Mayor Alderman Fermias Chakabuda, described Gono as a selfless man who worked for democracy and justice.
"We have lost a man whose only quest was justice. He became agitated if he saw any traversity to justice. He was candid and was not driven by the want of money. He also wanted to see the best men and women being elected to leadership posts in the party," said Chakabuda.
Ward 27 Councillor, Jefrey Tangemhare who broke into tears as he spoke said Ward 27 became Chechnya because of Eddie. He said Eddie was a strategist who would take a chunk of his time to campaign for the MDC-T in his home ward. He said Gono would always be at home when things were difficult.
Masvingo Mayor, Hubert Fidze and several councillors from Masvingo attended the funeral.
Eriam Musendekwa who lost to Dr Paul Chimedza in Gutu South Constituency described Gono as a soldier for democracy.
Gono's brother, Johannes Gono who is also a former councillor for Ward 2 in Masvingo said the family had lost a pillar.
Eddie is survived by his wife and seven children.
Source - Mirror Reporter
