The sudden death on Easter Monday of a senior Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative has sparked weird conspiracy theories
among Chinhoyi residents on the cause of his demise, with some alleging
sorcery.
The deceased, Martin Cyprian Nyashanu (64), who was the
deputy head of the Government Telecommunications Agency (GTA) under the
Presidential Communications section, collapsed and died shortly after
reportedly killing a snake at his Mzari suburb home.
As news of the well-known Nyashanu’s passing filtered
through, debate among the general public raged, with those who believe in
superstition suggesting his death could have been the work of black magic.
This was, however, dispelled by government officials and
relatives, who confirmed the late war veteran had been unwell lately.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa,
in a graveside speech read on her behalf by a director in her office, Douglas
Chiwiro, said Nyashanu died on April 22 on his way to hospital after
complaining of severe acid reflux attacks.
“In Nyashanu, we have lost a liberation war hero, friend,
colleague, intelligent, hardworking cadre … (and) a great champion for the
emancipation of oppressed Zimbabweans. He was a humble and compassionate cadre.
This is why news of his untimely death was received with shock and disbelief,”
she said.
Nyashanu, whose nom-de-guerre was Bruce Vatema Kudzanai,
was declared a provincial hero and buried at the local shrine on Wednesday.
However, the event caused a moment of anxiety among
mourners as proceedings were delayed for over two hours after the Zimbabwe
National Army (ZNA) pall bearers and gunners to perform the gun salute were
late, reportedly due to non-availability of fuel.
The ZNA contingent from 2.3 Infantry Battalion Magunje
Barracks later arrived around 4pm and the body, which lay in state at Cooksey
Hall, was taken to the shrine, where the late hero was given full military
honours.
Nyashanu joined the CIO on July 1, 1981 as a security aide
and rose through the ranks to become a senior operative.
From 1990 to 1994, he served as a protocol and
communications officer based in Washington, the United States.
Upon his return, he was promoted to chief communications
officer before his elevation to deputy head of the GTA Chinhoyi station in
April last year.
Nyashanu is survived by wife Merjury (59), sons Tafadzwa
(35) and Takudzwa (30) as well as daughter Tsungai (34). Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment