Request for Mumbengegwi to be declared a national hero

THE Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial leadership has recommended that Mumbengegwi be declared a national hero.

Acting Masvingo provincial chairman Amasa Nhenjana said Mumbengegwi was a renowned educationist and dedicated party cadre whose works in all positions he occupied were beyond measure.

He said they have since written to the Politburo requesting that he be accorded national hero status.

"We've met as an executive and overwhelmingly reached a consensus that the late Dr Mumbengegwi be accorded national hero status. Communication to the politburo over that issue has been done accordingly and we're waiting for a response. We felt that he was a man of stature whose support of the party in the province and beyond was commendable.

"He partook in the activities of the party at different levels, as an MP and above all as Cabinet Minister for different portfolios until 2009," said Nhenjana.

He is survived by wife Salina Mumbengegwi, five children and eight grandchildren.

Mumbengegwi, was born on October, 23, 1942, at Chikwehle area in Chivi District.

According to a family statement, he was a distinguished scholar with a Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil), Masters in Education, Certificate in Education from the University of Zimbabwe, Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of London.

At the time of his death, he was a senior lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University under the Faculty of Education after joining the institution of higher learning in 2012.

He was also a tutor and module writer for the Zimbabwe Open University doctoral programme from 2011.

From 2000 to 2005 he was Chivi North MP; from 2005 and 2008 he was the Senator for Chivi and Mwenezi and in 2008 he was the Minister of Finance.

Other ministerial positions that he held are: Indigenisation and Empowerment in the Office of the President (2005-2006), Industry and International Trade (2003-2004), Higher Education and Technology (2002-2003) and that of Education, Sports and Culture (2000-2001).

He was Zanu-PF political commissar for Borrowdale 1 District from 1981 to 1993, member of the party's Central Committee from 2004 to 2008, Masvingo provincial chairman from 2000 to 2006 and a member of the party National Consultative Assembly from 2009-2016.