(Last Updated on January 27, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Acting President Constantino Chiwenga will today preside over the historic triple burial at the National Heroes Acre, government spokesperson revealed.
Today, the late Ministers Sibusiso Moyo and Joel Biggie Matiza will be buried at the National Heroes Acre together with the late former Prisons boss Paradzai Zimondi.
Chiwenga was reportedly ‘ordered’ to take a rest last week by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as he was “worse for wear” due to overworking and the death of several close colleagues.
Chiwenga’s strange absence at the burial of late heroes Morton Malianga and Ellen Gwaradzimba had sparked rumours that the Vice President’s health had deteriorated with some claiming he had been subsequently flown to China for medical treatment.
However, yesterday government spokesperson Nick Mangwana announced that Chiwenga will be back at work and will preside the burials today.
“The burials of our three departed National Heroes will take place from 0900 tomorrow 27 January 2021. The Acting President, General (Rtd) Dr. CGDN Chiwenga will preside,” wrote Mangwana on his Twitter platform.
This will be the first time three people are buried at the same time at the national shrine.
The criteria for declaring one a ‘national hero’ was again put on the spotlight this past week as people questioned why the late Transport Minister Joel Biggie Matiza was conferred the national hero status.
Independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa even claimed the shrine had “lost its meaning.”