News / National
Zimbabwe's feared Army General has been buried
20 Aug 2011 at 14:17hrs | Views
Retired General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru, who died on Tuesday in a fire incident at his farm in Beatrice has been laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans attended a massive funeral for one of the nation's main power brokers, whose death in a house fire has intensified political maneuvering in longtime President Robert Mugabe's fractured party.
Mourners thronged the Heroes Acre on Saturday and swarmed over adjoining hillsides for the burial of Gen. Solomon Mujuru, a retired military chief who gave vital political support to his wife, the vice president.
Addressing mourners, Mugabe said Mujuru died Tuesday in an "inexplicable, horrendous fire accident."
Police and forensic investigators are investigating the fire's cause, amid questions of possible arson.
Mujuru's is the biggest state funeral since independence in 1980, symbolizing his influence and popularity. His gravestone says he was 66, older than the age given by biographers.
Born in Chivhu, Cde Mujuru attended Kwenda and Rufaro Missions for his Primary Education and Zimuto Secondary School outside Masvingo.
Cde Mujuru's passion to see his country free allowed him to partake in political activism resulting in him being arrested while in Form 3.
He joined the liberation struggle in the 1960s as a member of the ZAPU youth league.
In 1966, Cde Mujuru joined the liberation movement, only to be imprisoned at Khami, and on his release in 1968, he fled to Botswana and travelled to Zambia and later to the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, Bulgaria, Egypt and Tanzania for military training.
In 1970 he was appointed to lead a group of 45 freedom fighters to cross into Zimbabwe from Mozambique's Tete Province.
In 1971, he joined the Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) where he became Acting Commander-in-Chief in 1975, and joint leader of Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA), a united force of ZIPRA and ZANLA in 1976.
In 1977, Cde Mujuru became Deputy Secretary for the Defence for Zimbabwe African National Union – ZANU and eventually became Zimbabwe National Army Commander in 1981 and was promoted to full General in 1992.
In 1992, General Mujuru and the late Air Chief Marshall Josiah Tungamirai ended their military service to become civilians.
He was sworn in as Member of Parliament for Chikomba Constituency in 1994 and relinquished his post in 2000 but remained a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee and Politburo.
He is survived by wife, Vice President Joyce Mujuru and four children.
Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans attended a massive funeral for one of the nation's main power brokers, whose death in a house fire has intensified political maneuvering in longtime President Robert Mugabe's fractured party.
Mourners thronged the Heroes Acre on Saturday and swarmed over adjoining hillsides for the burial of Gen. Solomon Mujuru, a retired military chief who gave vital political support to his wife, the vice president.
Addressing mourners, Mugabe said Mujuru died Tuesday in an "inexplicable, horrendous fire accident."
Police and forensic investigators are investigating the fire's cause, amid questions of possible arson.
Mujuru's is the biggest state funeral since independence in 1980, symbolizing his influence and popularity. His gravestone says he was 66, older than the age given by biographers.
Born in Chivhu, Cde Mujuru attended Kwenda and Rufaro Missions for his Primary Education and Zimuto Secondary School outside Masvingo.
He joined the liberation struggle in the 1960s as a member of the ZAPU youth league.
In 1966, Cde Mujuru joined the liberation movement, only to be imprisoned at Khami, and on his release in 1968, he fled to Botswana and travelled to Zambia and later to the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, Bulgaria, Egypt and Tanzania for military training.
In 1970 he was appointed to lead a group of 45 freedom fighters to cross into Zimbabwe from Mozambique's Tete Province.
In 1971, he joined the Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) where he became Acting Commander-in-Chief in 1975, and joint leader of Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA), a united force of ZIPRA and ZANLA in 1976.
In 1977, Cde Mujuru became Deputy Secretary for the Defence for Zimbabwe African National Union – ZANU and eventually became Zimbabwe National Army Commander in 1981 and was promoted to full General in 1992.
In 1992, General Mujuru and the late Air Chief Marshall Josiah Tungamirai ended their military service to become civilians.
He was sworn in as Member of Parliament for Chikomba Constituency in 1994 and relinquished his post in 2000 but remained a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee and Politburo.
He is survived by wife, Vice President Joyce Mujuru and four children.
Source - zbc
