News / National
Mugabe set for Heroes Acre again as Gwanzura is declared a hero
11 Dec 2013 at 16:46hrs | Views
The Zanu-PF Politburo which met at the party's headquarters in Harare on Wednesday has conferred a founder member of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Zanu, Eric Nyakudya Gwanzura, a national hero status.
Gwanzura, who was 89, collapsed and died at his home in Chegutu on Monday.
Born in Zvimba, the veteran politician and seasoned trade unionist, Gwanzura did his primary education at Govhatema in Gwanda and Kutama School where he was a school mate of President Robert Mugabe.
Gwanzura trained as a builder at Waddilove Training Institute where he met his wife, Jane Gara.
Gwanzura who lived in Highfield and colleague Rueben Jamela formalised trade unionism in Zimbabwe.
From the early days of the NDP, he played the dual role of trade unionist and a political activist within the NDP.
He was arrested in the early 60s and spent two years at Hwahwa Prison.
Gwanzura attended the 1976 Geneva Conference and the 1979 Lancaster House Conference in London.
At independence he served as a Senator in the new parliament of Zimbabwe where he was deputy chairman of committees.
He played a critical role in the talks which led to the signing of the 1987 Unity Accord.
Gwanzura was a Central Committee member until his retirement to the National Consultative Assembly due to ill health.
Gwanzura and his brother Phanuel, developed Gwanzura stadium in Harare's suburb of Highfield.
He will be buried at the national shrine on Sunday.
Gwanzura, who was 89, collapsed and died at his home in Chegutu on Monday.
Born in Zvimba, the veteran politician and seasoned trade unionist, Gwanzura did his primary education at Govhatema in Gwanda and Kutama School where he was a school mate of President Robert Mugabe.
Gwanzura trained as a builder at Waddilove Training Institute where he met his wife, Jane Gara.
Gwanzura who lived in Highfield and colleague Rueben Jamela formalised trade unionism in Zimbabwe.
From the early days of the NDP, he played the dual role of trade unionist and a political activist within the NDP.
Gwanzura attended the 1976 Geneva Conference and the 1979 Lancaster House Conference in London.
At independence he served as a Senator in the new parliament of Zimbabwe where he was deputy chairman of committees.
He played a critical role in the talks which led to the signing of the 1987 Unity Accord.
Gwanzura was a Central Committee member until his retirement to the National Consultative Assembly due to ill health.
Gwanzura and his brother Phanuel, developed Gwanzura stadium in Harare's suburb of Highfield.
He will be buried at the national shrine on Sunday.
Source - zbc
