'Mhanda not a national hero' says Zanu-PF

The late former liberation war top commander Wilfred Mhanda may not be buried at the National Heroes Acre but he remains a true cadre, Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has said.

In an yesterday Gumbo said: "As far as I am concerned there are no consultations or deliberations to see whether Dzino can be declared a national hero. However whether we bury him at the heroes' acre or not does not take away his contribution to the liberation of this country. He is in every sense of the word a national hero."

Gumbo worked closely with Mhanda, better known by his nume de gurrie, Dzinashe Machingura or Cde Dzino during the vicious bush war that brought Zimbabwe's independence and was part of a group that tried to rebel against the then Zanu leadership under the banner of Vashandi.

"Mhanda was one of our leading cadres but unfortunately at Independence he had a different political opinion from the rest of us. Every one of these people you see in Zanu-PF today, most of them came through his hands as political commissar or military trainer. I went with him to China for training and he was an excellent fighter," Gumbo said.

Asked on whether he would have recommended Machingura for heroes' status, Gumbo was evasive.

"The conferment of heroes' status is a collective decision by the politburo and the President has the final say. We consult and make a decision together, it is never about how I feel or think," he said.

Meanwhile condolences from political parties poured in for the late Mhanda. The MDC-T's Renewal faction described Mhanda as a liberation icon. Mhanda died at Parirenyatwa Hospital on Wednesday after a long battle with colon cancer.

"The MDC Team has learnt with shock and sadness the death of our struggle hero, Wilfred Mhanda, popularly known by his liberation name Dzinashe Machingura. The former guerrilla war commander will always be remembered as a selfless cadre and revolutionary whose contribution to the fight for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe both before and after independence is unquestionable and will be cherished by all Zimbabweans who want to see their country, which thousands of our brothers and sisters lost their lives  for, prospering," the group said in a statement.

The MDC-Team added that Mhanda was a struggle icon who contributed immensely to the liberation of Zimbabwe "and this will remain indelibly imprinted in the annals of Zimbabwe's history".

While cherishing Mhanda's contribution to the building of the nation state that is Zimbabwe today  "the MDC Team, demand that Mhanda be accorded due recognition for his contribution as a gallant liberator of the people of Zimbabwe both before and after independence.

"We call for him to be awarded a national liberation hero-status, failure of which we strongly condemn the partisan and narrow mindedness that is implemented by Zanu-PF in awarding national hero status," the group said in a statement.

Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) frontman Simba Makoni said the late Mhanda was a fearless war veteran who fought gallantly for the liberation of this country and remained resolute to "seeing a just Zimbabwe where everyone lives without fear that characterise our society today".

"A freedom fighter in his own right; who earned his full stripes in the struggle for liberation. Gallant fighter who not only gave everything to the struggle, but also fought so that we may today enjoy the fruits of freedom. The MKD party salute this great patriot, hero and titan of our struggle and extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Wilfred Mhanda," said Makoni in the statement.

Mhanda was a top commander of the short-lived Zimbabwe People's Army (Zipa) a still-borne effort to combine the two nationalist armies from Zipra and Zanla in the mid-1970s.

Mourners are gathered at House Number 7 Sudbury Road, Monavale in Harare.