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Zanu-PF politburo declares cremated Patel a national hero
14 Sep 2011 at 17:02hrs | Views
The Zanu PF Politburo which met in Harare this Wednesday has unanimously declared the late, Kantibhai Gordanbhai Patel, whose nickname 'PP' which stood for People's Person, a national hero.
Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo said the conferrement is in recognition of his unwavering and consistent work for the liberation and development of Zimbabwe.
Indian-born Patel arrived in Zimbabwe then Rhodesia in 1961 and came into contact with progressive Zimbabweans of Indian origin who were linked up with the National Democratic Party (NDP) and ZAPU.
In the 1970s, Patel together with a group of progressive Zimbabweans of Indian origin formed the Sarasvati Education Trust to help raise funds to assist mainly black students including those expelled for nationalist activities to pursue university education.
During the struggle his house and shop were ransacked by colonial police after the banning of ZAPU and the NDP.
After independence he served the nation in various capacities including that of Senator, Member of Parliament and other senior positions.
Born on the 28th of October 1928 in Gujarat State in India, the late Patel was educated in India and came to Africa halfway through his university studies.
Heavily involved in mobilising financial support for the nationalist movement throughout the liberation struggle, Patel pioneered the Zanu PF Ridgeview branch in 1980 where he encouraged members of the Asian community to play an active role in Zimbabwean politics while also serving in various capacities in the party and in government.
Patel died on Saturday morning at a Johannesburg hospital where he was being treated for hip and shoulder injuries sustained when he fell at his Ridgeview home last month.
Meanwhile, the body of the late Patel has been cremated at Pioneer cemetery.
A man whose life straddled different cultures, national hero Patel's life was colourful until the end.
He was sent off in an intercultural ceremony accompanied by the sound of the African drum as he was ushered off into the next world through the Hindu cremation at Mbare's Pioneer cemetery.
To family spokesperson Professor Hasu Patel, the colourful send off was what Patel would have loved to be remembered for - being a man of the people.
The funeral proceedings began at Patel's residence in Ridgeview suburb.
While the traditional Bhanyan culture dictates that Patel's ashes are sent to India and some be retained locally, the remainder of the ashes will be interred at the National Heroes Acre during the 2012 Heroes celebrations.
He becomes the second national hero to have his ashes buried at the national shrine after Guy Clutton-Brock who was cremated in the United Kingdom and his ashes were repatriated to Zimbabwe in the 1990's.
Patel is survived by three sons and seven grandchildren.
Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo said the conferrement is in recognition of his unwavering and consistent work for the liberation and development of Zimbabwe.
Indian-born Patel arrived in Zimbabwe then Rhodesia in 1961 and came into contact with progressive Zimbabweans of Indian origin who were linked up with the National Democratic Party (NDP) and ZAPU.
In the 1970s, Patel together with a group of progressive Zimbabweans of Indian origin formed the Sarasvati Education Trust to help raise funds to assist mainly black students including those expelled for nationalist activities to pursue university education.
During the struggle his house and shop were ransacked by colonial police after the banning of ZAPU and the NDP.
After independence he served the nation in various capacities including that of Senator, Member of Parliament and other senior positions.
Born on the 28th of October 1928 in Gujarat State in India, the late Patel was educated in India and came to Africa halfway through his university studies.
Heavily involved in mobilising financial support for the nationalist movement throughout the liberation struggle, Patel pioneered the Zanu PF Ridgeview branch in 1980 where he encouraged members of the Asian community to play an active role in Zimbabwean politics while also serving in various capacities in the party and in government.
Meanwhile, the body of the late Patel has been cremated at Pioneer cemetery.
A man whose life straddled different cultures, national hero Patel's life was colourful until the end.
He was sent off in an intercultural ceremony accompanied by the sound of the African drum as he was ushered off into the next world through the Hindu cremation at Mbare's Pioneer cemetery.
To family spokesperson Professor Hasu Patel, the colourful send off was what Patel would have loved to be remembered for - being a man of the people.
The funeral proceedings began at Patel's residence in Ridgeview suburb.
While the traditional Bhanyan culture dictates that Patel's ashes are sent to India and some be retained locally, the remainder of the ashes will be interred at the National Heroes Acre during the 2012 Heroes celebrations.
He becomes the second national hero to have his ashes buried at the national shrine after Guy Clutton-Brock who was cremated in the United Kingdom and his ashes were repatriated to Zimbabwe in the 1990's.
Patel is survived by three sons and seven grandchildren.
Source - zbc
