News / National
Another seniors Zanu-PF member dies
10 Jun 2014 at 07:18hrs | Views
Former Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare and former Member of Parliament for Mbare Dr Edward Munatsireyi Pswarayi has died. He was 87. Dr Pswarai died at St Anne's Hospital on Sunday.
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairperson Amos Midzi said they were making consultations on what hero status to recommend to the Zanu-PF Politburo.
"He is one of the early nationalists and freedom fighters in his own right together with others who played a role in fighting against British colonialism," he said. "Dr Pswarayi was one of the first black medical doctors in Zimbabwe.
"It is a sad loss to the country and as a province we view it as a continued loss taking place among our founding leaders."
Dr Pswarayi worked with other nationalists like national heroes Robert Marere and Eric Nyakudya Gwanzura.
Born on October 5, 1926 at Zongoro in Manicaland to an Anglican priest, Dr Pswarayi went to various schools in Manicaland, including St Augustine's.
He first enrolled at the University of Fort Hare where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree and thereafter studied Medicine at the University of Witwatersrand together with another illustrious Zimbabwean doctor and nationalist the late Dr Samuel Parirenyatwa.
It was during this period that he was exposed to the nationalist movement in South Africa as spearheaded by the African National Congress.
He graduated in medicine in 1956 and returned to Rhodesia as it was known then, becoming the second African medical doctor after Dr Samuel Parirenyatwa.
Immediately upon his return, he became an active member of the National Democratic Party, then ZAPU through to ZANU, working with the likes of President Mugabe, James Chikerema, George Nyandoro, Herbert Chitepo and Dr Parirenyatwa.
He contributed to the activities of the struggle, utilising his personal resources like providing his vehicle for transporting the then Zapu president Joshua Nkomo.
His home in Mbare became the venue of various meetings for the ZANU leadership which involved his neighbours, colleagues and confidants.
Dr Pswarayi was one of those who remained in Zimbabwe and as chairman of the Peoples Movement he was critical in the clandestine operational functions of ZANU.
Determined to ruin his professional career as a medical doctor, Rhodesians twice burnt his surgery at Machipisa in Harare. His Mbare home was raided in September 1978 by the Rhodesian security forces and he was arrested and detained at Chikurubi and other prisons in Harare before being detained at Hwahwa Prison.
Dr Pswarayi was released in 1979 and joined the ZANU-PF delegation in London for the Lancaster House conference talks.
After Independence, he was elected as ZANU-PF MP for Mbare and would later serve the Government as Deputy Minister of Transport and later as Deputy Minister of Health.
Dr Pswarayi is survived by his wife, 19 children, 37 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairperson Amos Midzi said they were making consultations on what hero status to recommend to the Zanu-PF Politburo.
"He is one of the early nationalists and freedom fighters in his own right together with others who played a role in fighting against British colonialism," he said. "Dr Pswarayi was one of the first black medical doctors in Zimbabwe.
"It is a sad loss to the country and as a province we view it as a continued loss taking place among our founding leaders."
Dr Pswarayi worked with other nationalists like national heroes Robert Marere and Eric Nyakudya Gwanzura.
Born on October 5, 1926 at Zongoro in Manicaland to an Anglican priest, Dr Pswarayi went to various schools in Manicaland, including St Augustine's.
He first enrolled at the University of Fort Hare where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree and thereafter studied Medicine at the University of Witwatersrand together with another illustrious Zimbabwean doctor and nationalist the late Dr Samuel Parirenyatwa.
It was during this period that he was exposed to the nationalist movement in South Africa as spearheaded by the African National Congress.
He graduated in medicine in 1956 and returned to Rhodesia as it was known then, becoming the second African medical doctor after Dr Samuel Parirenyatwa.
Immediately upon his return, he became an active member of the National Democratic Party, then ZAPU through to ZANU, working with the likes of President Mugabe, James Chikerema, George Nyandoro, Herbert Chitepo and Dr Parirenyatwa.
He contributed to the activities of the struggle, utilising his personal resources like providing his vehicle for transporting the then Zapu president Joshua Nkomo.
His home in Mbare became the venue of various meetings for the ZANU leadership which involved his neighbours, colleagues and confidants.
Dr Pswarayi was one of those who remained in Zimbabwe and as chairman of the Peoples Movement he was critical in the clandestine operational functions of ZANU.
Determined to ruin his professional career as a medical doctor, Rhodesians twice burnt his surgery at Machipisa in Harare. His Mbare home was raided in September 1978 by the Rhodesian security forces and he was arrested and detained at Chikurubi and other prisons in Harare before being detained at Hwahwa Prison.
Dr Pswarayi was released in 1979 and joined the ZANU-PF delegation in London for the Lancaster House conference talks.
After Independence, he was elected as ZANU-PF MP for Mbare and would later serve the Government as Deputy Minister of Transport and later as Deputy Minister of Health.
Dr Pswarayi is survived by his wife, 19 children, 37 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Source - The Herald
