Andy Brown to be accorded with liberation war hero status

Zanu-PF Harare and Midlands provinces have approached the party requesting it to consider conferring Andy Brown with liberation war hero status.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the status will be in recognition of the role played by the musician in supporting a national cause, the land reform programme.

Gumbo said Brown was an outstanding musician who authored songs that evoked the spirit of the liberation struggle.

He said Brown suffered loss of business by choosing to support the land reform programme.

Brown (50) died last Friday at Parirenyatwa Hospital.

He will be buried at his rural home in Mberengwa on Thursday. Burial was postponed from tomorrow to allow his children and relatives abroad to arrive.

The body of Andy Brown whose real name was Cadia Shoko at birth up until Grade Seven, will lie in state at his Cranborne house tonight and leave for Mberengwa tomorrow.

Andy Brown will buried near Chavengwa Primary School under Chief Mudavanhu.

Top Government and Zanu-PF officials yesterday visited the Brown home to pay their respects.

These included Rugare Gumbo, chief whip Joram Gumbo who is also MP for Mberengwa West Constituency where Andy Brown hails from.

In its recommendation, Harare Province indicated that Andy Brown supported the land reform programme which saw him drop his popularity among those who opposed to the programme.

"People got upset with him for mixing his music with politics. He held the position of secretary for information and publicity in Takawira branch under Mukuvisi District (DCC5) the position he held until his death."

Andy Brown is survived by his wife Nadine and 10 children.