NATIONAL Hero Cde Absolom Sikhosana, who died on Saturday,
was given an emotional send-off in two funeral services held at the White City
Stadium B Arena in Bulawayo and his farm at Inyathi where speakers testified to
his loyalty and commitment to the ruling Zanu-PF.
In the midst of the ravaging Covid-19, party members who
formed the majority of mourners, and members of the community gathered at
Inyathi and Bulawayo observing regulations to fight the pandemic as they formed
bee lines at the respective entrances to sanitise their hands before sitting
more than a metre apart.
In Bulawayo for the programme led by Bulawayo Provincial
Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, party members, in their small
number in adherence to measures to fight Covid-19, managed to paint the arena
into yellow, green, white and red as they donned different shades of the ruling
party’s regalia to bid farewell to Cde Sikhosana.
Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Victor Matemadanda
represented the ruling party and also in attendance was Zimbabwe national
Liberation War Veterans chairperson and Politburo member Cde Chris Mutsvangwa,
Cde Angeline Masuku, Cde Tshinga Dube, Kenneth Musanhi, acting Zanu-PF
secretary for youth affairs Cde Tendai Chirau and members of his executive, who
included Cdes Mabutho Moyo and Sibongile Sibanda among others.
From the Government side was the Minister for Matabeleland
South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Abednico Ncube, deputy director-general
in the Central Intelligence Organisation Dr Gatsha Mazithulela, deputy minister
of Primary and Secondary Education Cde Edgar Moyo and Zanu-PF Umzingwane
legislator Retired Brigadier-General Levi Mayihlome and members of the security
sector.
Minister Ncube said Cde Sikhosana fought the good fight and
duly deserved to be accorded national hero status.
“I worked With Cde Sikhosana since 1981 until today, and it
was a blessing to have worked with him all these years, there was no reason to
fight Cde Sikhosana because he was loved by everyone and truly God sent,” she
said.
The Minister recalled the day Cde Sikhosana was admitted to
hospital last Monday when the national hero called her asking for assistance as
he was struggling to get out of his car.
“Little did I know that he was saying goodbye, we called
the doctors to immediately assist him and when later we visited him, he said
‘Sisi thank you, you saved my life’. Little did we know that it was towards the
end,” she said.
Minister Ncube paid tribute to the Zanu-PF party membership
for assisting Cde Sikhosana’s family singling out Cdes Dube, Masuku and Joshua
Malinga for taking a lead in ensuring the smooth running of things and also
engaging Cde Sikhosana’s family.
She said an initial decision was that Cde Sikhosana be
buried in Bulawayo but the national leadership had seen it fit that he be
buried at the National Heroes Acre.
Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Matemadanda said
the party lost a gallant fighter, leader, teacher, motivator and a true
nationalist who fulfils the definition of a hero.
“He was persistent and consistent and for that I think the
National Hero status was not conferred on him but he earned it. It was an
automatic decision because Cde Sikhosana is a hero par excellence,” said Cde
Matemadanda.
He said Cde Sikhosana, from the time he joined the
liberation struggle, never veered off the road and became a remarkable leader
post-independence from the time he was youth leader to other politburo
portfolios. “When the provincial structures of Bulawayo were dissolved it was
discussed that Cde Sikhosana be the coordinating chairperson of the province.
Despite the fact that he was not well, Cde Sikhosana dutifully carried out the
task without ever complaining,” said Cde Matemadanda.
There was a moment of laughter when Cde Matemadanda
recognised the presence of Cde Mutsvangwa whom he said was one of the best
English speakers he knows.
He said Bulawayo has suffered a double tragedy as it no
longer has a chairperson and President Mnangagwa will make an announcement of a
replacement after the burial of Cde Sikhosana.
“The lasting solution would be to have provincial elections
and the process will be done after the Covid-19 pandemic is defeated,” he said.
A family representative thanked the Government and
President Mnangagwa for the assistance rendered to the family after the death
of Cde Sikhosana.
Before the Bulawayo service, Cde Sikhosana’s body had been
taken, aboard a ZNA helicopter, to his farm in Inyathi, Bubi District.
Zanu-PF Bubi legislator Cde Sonny Mguni said during Cde
Sikhosana’s time as Zanu-PF Youth League secretary, there was discipline among
party youth.
“I want to commend President Mnangagwa for declaring Cde
Sikhosana a national hero. He earned his national hero status. He deserved
being declared a national hero due to his works that we all know about. It was
going to be shocking if he was not declared a national hero and not buried at
the national shrine. Cde Sikhosana would be remembered for his time as the
Youth League secretary. He instilled discipline among the party’s youths and
during his time we never heard of any squabbles and noises coming from the
Youth League,” said Cde Mguni.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North Women’s League chairperson Cde
Madeline Bhebhe said Cde Sikhosana was a unifier.
“We know how Bulawayo is but he managed to lead Bulawayo
without us hearing of any squabbles coming from the province. He was the type
of a leader who would listen and accommodate every opinion. As Zanu-PF Women’s
League, we know of his leadership qualities and we feel the country has lost a
great leader. We mourn together with Sikhosana’s family,” she said.
Senior Government officials including Matabeleland North
Provincial Development Coordinator Ms Latiso Dlamini, the security sector and
members of the public attended the funeral service. After the funeral service
in Bulawayo, Cde Sikhosana’s body was taken aboard a ZNA helicopter and as it took
off, mourners burst into song in their final tribute to the national hero who
will be buried at the National Heroes Acre today. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment